DETROIT (WXYZ) — A member of the Latin Counts gang in Detroit was sentenced to 30 years in prison this week for conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, U.S. Attorney Matthe Schneider announced.
Alberto Jackson, 20, of Detroit, allegedly planned and carried out a drive-by shooting in a Southwest Detroit neighborhood in 2017, killing one person and injuring two others.
Court records show that the Latin Counts gang operates primarily in southwest Detroit, Lincoln Park and Ecorse. The U.S. Attorney's Office said they are a "criminal enterprise responsible for murders, robberies, and the distribution of illegal drugs," and use violence to retaliate against rivals, intimidate the community and advance people in the gang.
With the ATF, FBI, Detroit Homicide Task Force under the Detroit One initiative, seven members of the gang responsive for the drive-by shooting were all identified, charged, and pleaded guilty.
Under the Detroit One initiative, and through the lead efforts of the ATF, FBI, and the Detroit Homicide Task Force, law enforcement identified and charged a total of seven violent members of the Latin Counts gang responsible for the drive-by shooting, all of whom have since pleaded guilty. “Gang violence is a grave threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Schneider. “Today’s stern sentence is the latest example of how our office is aggressively prosecuting violent gang members who endanger the citizens of Michigan.”
“The ATF with our law enforcement partners will continue to relentlessly investigate gang and gun crimes to protect the public,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Deir. “This sentence shows that our efforts are working.”
