ST. LOUIS — The "55 Boyz," a fentanyl-dealing south St. Louis gang co-headed by an area rapper, has been dismantled, authorities announced at a Monday news conference.
Though the 55 Boyz may not be a household name to many St. Louisans, they were a large influence in the south city fentanyl trade and "were both the targets of drug-linked shootings as well as the perpetrators of such violence," U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming said.
Since an investigation began three years ago, 15 members and associates of the gang have been convicted and sentenced, and various search warrants across St. Louis have ended with the seizure of drugs, guns, cash, homes purchased with drug money, and a diamond chain necklace.
The gang's leaders were both sentenced to prison earlier this month. St. Louis rapper Davante "Jizzlebuckz" Lindsey, 28, was given 12 years in prison and Andre "Luh Half" Pearson, 21, was given 11 years.
The pair helped form the 55 Boyz out of other gangs, authorities said, including Young Project Goons, Team Knockout, The Strip, Pressure Gang, and CAVE.
Lindsey was the face of the gang. He was known for rapping about the gang, fentanyl dealing and other crimes, court documents said.
Along with Lindsey and Pearson, the gang had three "managers" who oversaw 13 workers, and three "family facilitators."
The organization was at one point responsible for a significant amount of the fentanyl being sold in south St. Louis. Fleming said she believes the flow of drugs into the city will be severely impacted by the gang members' convictions.
When St. Louis police began investigating in 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had already arrested one person with drugs and guns while investigating another matter. Both agencies began working together, and the IRS' Criminal Investigation agency joined to target money laundering and illegal drug sale proceeds.
Several search warrants across St. Louis turned up more than two dozen guns, $120,000 in cash, thousands of fentanyl capsules and two cars. State prosecutors also said police seized two homes bought using drug proceeds, and a "55 Boyz" chain necklace emblazoned with about 2,500 tiny diamonds.
Police said the following 55 Boyz members have been convicted and sentenced:
- Davante "Jizzlebuckz" Lindsey, 27: (12 years in prison);
- Andre "Luh Half" Pearson, 28 (11 years in prison);
- Edward "Edot" Hopkins, 22;
- Tony "Big Boi" Evans, 35;
- Araven Johnson, 29;
- Douglas Simpson, 35;
- Jeffrey Moore, 26;
- Shawn Liggins, 22;
- Omar Lewis, 23;
- Willie Lindsey, 44;
- Jamond "Huncho" Dismukes, 24;
- Travon "Skins" Weatherspoon, 34;
- Bortha Lindsey, 43;
- Erik Simmons, 30;
- and Armani Tatum, 33.
Four people separately pleaded guilty and were sentenced on drug or gun charges:
- Martez Lindsey, 32;
- Jaheim "DaeDae" Young, 23;
- Jaron Tate, 24;
- and Jhonetta Phillips, 33.
Ja'Vonne Lindsey, 20, awaits sentencing, prosecutors said.
The ATF also has a warrant out for the arrest of Carlos Amos.
"We will continue to be working together to aggressively investigate and prosecute those that are flooding our streets with Fentanyl and using violence to further their illegal and very, very deadly activity," Fleming said.