The Department of Justice has dropped its case against an alleged top leader of the MS-13 gang in Virginia. Anthony Zigler, a member of the Almighty Vice Lords Nation, was convicted of a violent crime in aid of racketeering at a Michigan prison, where he stabbed an inmate 15 times in 2017. Zigler, known as “Footz” and “Vampire” in the gang, could face up to 20 years in prison for the attack.
The Almighty Vice Lords Nation is a criminal network involved in violence, drug dealing, and other crimes across the country. The gang has different branches, including Conservative Vice Lords and Traveling Vice Lords, with a common symbol of a five-pointed star representing their affiliation with the People Nation alliance.
Zigler’s conviction is part of a larger 40-person indictment of Almighty Vice Lords Nation members for racketeering, conspiracy, and other crimes. The gang enforces strict hierarchy and orders violence to maintain power, with members facing consequences for disobeying orders from higher-ranking leaders. Zigler’s conviction is seen as a blow to the gang’s influence both locally and nationally.
In related cases, three Detroit residents were sentenced to 60 to 70 years for RICO and witness intimidation charges, while three other high-ranking leaders were convicted of RICO conspiracy. Thirty-three other members of the gang still have pending court cases. The DOJ, along with the ATF and Detroit Police Department, continues to investigate and prosecute gang-related crimes to ensure community safety.
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