19 Indicted In Massive Gang, Gun And Drug Cases

TAMPA, FL — Five suspected gang members were recently indicted on various charges relating to a gang feud and retaliatory shootings in Tampa, the Department of Justice said Tuesday.

Their indictments are part of a national initiative that also secured 14 drug and gun-related indictments in Polk County, justice officials said Tuesday.

"We are turning up the heat to crush violent crime and restore safety," Matt Fodor, an FBI agent in Tampa, said at a news conference, per WFTS.

Five Tampa men, ranging in age from 26-30, are being accused of being members of Glock Boys, also known as Glockies. An official indictment date was not immediately known.

Justice officials said Glock Boys is a subset of a West Tampa criminal enterprise that has been feuding with the suspected Robles Park gang.

Retaliatory shootings between the two organizations have occurred in the International Plaza Mall's parking lot outside of a nightclub and in neighborhoods near Walnut Street and Central Avenue, the DOJ said.

During at least one shooting, several bystanders were hit by gunfire, the DOJ said.

The group of men were also accused of participating in a national identity theft and fraud operation. They were accused of stealing the personal information of multiple people and filing hundreds of false unemployment claims in several states using the stolen identities.

The DOJ said these men were indicted:

• Greg "Cheese" Kendrick, 29
• Corey "Coe" Davis, 30
• Arius "Streetz" Johnson, 30
• Damion "Dane" Council, 27
• Antonio "Lil' Glockie" Phillips, 26 (also known as "Twin")

Charges range as follows, per the DOJ:

• Conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering activity
• Conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering activity
• Attempted murder
• Discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence
• Possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon
• Aggravated identity theft
• Possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices.

"Let me be absolutely clear, this kind of criminal behavior will not be tolerated in the city of Tampa," Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said, per WFTS. "We will not allow gangs or anyone else to endanger the safety of our citizens."

The case against the Tampa men, part of Operation Take Back America, comes after suspected members of Robles Park were convicted and sentenced on "related violent and fraudulent activity" in 2023, the DOJ said.

Operation Take Back America also recently netted 14 indictments in Polk County, where the defendants face drug and gun charges, the DOJ said.

The following people were arrested, per the DOJ:

• Curtis Charles Tinsley, 47, of Lakeland
• Tyler Anthony Devaney, 32, Winter Haven
• Alvin Antonio Barnes III, 47, Lakeland
• Tonyo Cortez Evans, 39, Lakeland
• Lamar Anthony Hamilton 43, Lakeland
• Albert Lewis III, 48, Lakeland
• Tyrese Leon Pratt, 39, Lakeland
• Antonio Groover, 32, Dundee
• Kenji Antwana Miller, 38, Lakeland
• Melvin Sharon Murray, 48, Lakeland
• Robert James Johnson IV, 32, Lakeland
• Steven Wayne Gay, 55, Lakeland
• Tiffany Elaine Creach, 43, Lakeland
• Sabrina Marie Taylor, 40, Dover

The defendants are accused of conspiring to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, at least 500 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy.

The DOJ said Devaney, Barnes, Hamilton, Pratt and Groover are facing charges of possessing firearms or ammunition as convicted felons. Additionally, the DOJ said Devaney, Pratt and Hamilton face charges of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense.

The allegations against Tinsley, Devaney, Barnes, Evans, Hamilton, Groover, Miller, Murray and Gay come "after convictions for either serious drug or violent felonies," the DOJ said.

If convicted, all defendants face life in federal prison, the maximum possible penalty, the DOJ said.

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