Ex-DeKalb Officer Among 5 Gangster Disciples Convicted

ATLANTA – A federal jury has convicted five Gangster Disciples, among them a former DeKalb police officer, of racketeering, conspiracy involving murder, carjacking, attempted robbery and other crimes. The ex-officer, Vancito Gumbs, was a self-professed “hitman” for the gang, and prosecutors said Gumbs relayed police information to the gang and provided guns.

The Gangster Disciples have roots in Chicago dating back to the 1970s. Prosecutors argued the defendants and their fellow gang members used the gang’s structure to carry out a pattern of violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, bank and wire fraud, drug trafficking and extortion.

The jury heard testimony and other evidence about 12 victims murdered by Gangster Disciples and another 12 shot. Included in those murders was the killing of a man as he and his family walked home from a convenience store, leaving the man shot and dying in front of a 4-year-old child. The jury also saw surveillance footage from a shooting inside a Macon nightclub that left three people dead and another three injured, and also also heard from a victim who was shot more than a dozen times because he refused to take part in a Gangster Disciples’ sponsored community clean-up.

Convicted were Alonzo Walton, 51, of Atlanta, who was the gang's highest ranking member in Georgia. Kevin Clayton, 47, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was the “chief enforcer” for the state, responsible for violently maintaining discipline among members. Donald Glass, 31, of Decatur, headed up the gang's “hate committee,” which was responsible for carrying out shootings, robberies and murders. The jury also convicted Antarious Caldwell, 25, of Ellenwood, Georgia, who took part in murders and robberies as a “hate committee” member. Gumbs, 27, was a resident of Stone Mountain, Georgia.

A total of 18 defendants have already pleaded guilty, and there are 15 defendants awaiting trial.