Two Memphis Gang Members Sentenced to 50 Years in Racketeering Murder Case
Two high-ranking members of the Unknown Vice Lords street gang have been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison after a jury found them guilty of a gang-related murder that unfolded in Memphis in 2019. Edward Allen, also known as E-Money, and Deandre Rodgers, known as Dre, were convicted in February 2026 of causing death by use of a firearm during a crime of violence—specifically, murder in aid of racketeering. The case, investigated by multiple federal and local agencies, highlights the ongoing federal effort to dismantle violent street gangs and hold their leaders accountable for acts of retaliation and terror.
Source note: This article is based on a public release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Sentences and Their Significance
On May 13, 2026, a federal judge in the Western District of Tennessee imposed 50-year prison terms on both Allen and Rodgers. The sentences were the result of a federal jury trial that ended on February 13, 2026, with convictions on a single count each: causing death through the use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, that crime being murder in aid of racketeering. The charge carries a statutory maximum of life imprisonment or the death penalty, though prosecutors did not seek capital punishment. In this case, the court opted for substantial determinate sentences that, given the defendants' ages (42 and 29), will may have result in them spending the rest of their lives in federal custody. Under federal law, there is no parole, and inmates must serve at least 85% of their sentence, making these terms effectively life without release.
A third defendant, Vincent Grant—also known as V-Slash—was convicted in a separate trial on the same charge and received a 24-year sentence for his role in supplying the firearms used in the killing. While his sentence is shorter, it still reflects the seriousness with which the justice system treats those who enable gang violence.
The sentences underscore the severity with which federal authorities view gang-related killings that serve to further the power and reach of a criminal enterprise. Under federal law, murder committed to maintain or increase one's position within a racketeering organization is prosecuted with tools not always available to state courts, including longer sentences and fewer opportunities for early release.
The Gang's Criminal Enterprise
According to court documents and testimony, the Unknown Vice Lords—also referred to as The Ghost Mob—operated as a structured criminal enterprise with territory spanning Memphis, as well as parts of Arkansas and Mississippi. The gang engaged in a wide range of illegal activities to maintain control, including murders, burglaries, assaults, human trafficking, and drug trafficking. Members were expected to follow a strict hierarchy, with the Supreme Elite Chief serving as the top leader for Tennessee. Below him were high-ranking enforcers like Allen and Rodgers, trusted to carry out the gang's most violent directives.
Allen, 42, was originally from Los Angeles but held significant rank within the gang's Memphis operation. Rodgers, 29, was a younger associate who had risen to a leadership role. Both were considered part of the gang's inner circle, responsible for enforcing discipline and eliminating threats. Their convictions and sentences have essentially removed the top echelon of the gang's Memphis leadership, at least those directly involved in this case.
Federal prosecutors described the Unknown Vice Lords as a violent, retaliatory group that used fear to silence both rivals and its own members. The gang's internal discipline was brutal; members who were perceived as disloyal or who violated the gang's code faced swift and often fatal consequences. This culture of violence set the stage for the events that led to the murder at the center of this case.
The federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and related statutes allow prosecutors to charge crimes that are part of a pattern of racketeering activity. Murder in aid of racketeering is one of the most serious charges under this framework, as it directly supports the enterprise's existence through violence. The convictions of Allen, Rodgers, and Grant demonstrate how federal law can be applied to disrupt gang activity.
The Murders and Retaliation: A Timeline of Violence
The case centers on two murders that occurred within days of each other in January 2019. On January 10, the gang's Supreme Elite Chief and his girlfriend were shot and killed in broad daylight in a residential Memphis neighborhood. The brazen double homicide sent shockwaves through the organization. Initially, members of the Unknown Vice Lords believed a rival gang was responsible for the killings. However, as time passed, suspicion turned inward. Leaders of the gang came to believe that one of their own had orchestrated the murders.
In the days following the leader's death, the gang's surviving leadership decided to retaliate against the person they believed was responsible. The target was a fellow gang member, though the government has not publicly identified the victim by name in the release. The decision to kill a fellow member was not merely personal vengeance; it was an act designed to reinforce the gang's internal hierarchy and deter any future challenges to authority.
On January 14, 2019, just four days after the leader's murder, Allen and Rodgers obtained firearms from Vincent Grant. Early the next morning, around 1 a.m., Allen, Rodgers, Grant, and another unidentified gang member drove the intended victim to the back of a run-down apartment complex in Memphis. The location was chosen deliberately: a secluded area behind an abandoned-looking complex that would minimize witnesses and delay discovery of the body. According to prosecutors, Allen and Rodgers then used the supplied guns to murder the victim in what was described as an execution-style killing, carried out with premeditation and cold efficiency.
After the murder, the group fled. The victim's body was later found by authorities, triggering an investigation that eventually connected the killing to the broader pattern of gang violence. The use of a firearm in furtherance of a racketeering enterprise elevated the crime to a federal offense, allowing for prosecution under statutes that carry severe penalties.
The Federal Investigation and Trial
The case was investigated primarily by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with significant assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, the Memphis Police Department, and the U.S. Secret Service. The multi-agency task force reflects the federal government's heightened focus on violent crime in Memphis through initiatives like the Criminal Division's Violent Crime Initiative.
Trial Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Sarah J. Rasalam of the Justice Department's Violent Crime and Racketeering Section handled the prosecution, along with substantial support from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant and Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva both issued statements emphasizing the importance of dismantling gang leadership and protecting communities.
The investigation pieced together the gang's structure, the motive for the murder, and the roles of each participant. Evidence included witness testimony, ballistics analysis, digital records, and the cooperation of some gang associates. The trials established that Allen and Rodgers were the shooters, while Grant provided the firearms. Grant's separate trial focused on his role as the firearms supplier; he was convicted and sentenced to 24 years.
Federal prosecutors used racketeering laws to charge the defendants, arguing that the murder was committed to maintain and increase their standing within the criminal enterprise. This legal approach is part of a broader strategy to target the infrastructure of violent gangs, not just individual crimes. The convictions and sentences represent a significant victory for the multi-agency effort to reduce gang violence in Memphis.
Official Reactions and the Message to Gang Members
Assistant Attorney General Duva described the sentences as a clear message that organized gang violence and retaliatory murder will be vigorously pursued. He said the defendants "carried out a calculated, execution-style murder" intended to "incite fear and silence" in fellow gang members and the community. Duva noted that the 50-year terms mean the two will now be known by their Bureau of Prisons inmate numbers rather than their gang nicknames.
U.S. Attorney Dunavant added that the sentences dismantled the UVL street gang's leadership in Memphis, stating, "From now on, E-Money, Dre, and V-Slash will not be 'known' by their gang nickname, but only by their Bureau of Prisons inmate numbers."
These statements, while typical of law enforcement press releases, carry weight because they underscore the federal government's strategic priority: targeting the top tier of violent criminal organizations to disrupt their operations and deter future violence. The language used by the officials emphasizes both the severity of the crime and the commitment to continued enforcement.
How the Sentences Affect Public Safety
The removal of high-ranking gang leaders like Allen and Rodgers can have a significant impact on gang operations. Without their enforcers, the gang's ability to carry out violent acts and maintain control is diminished. The federal initiative in Memphis, part of a larger Violent Crime Initiative, leverages federal resources and laws—such as racketeering statutes—to prosecute offenders in federal court, where sentences are often harsher and parole is unavailable. The long prison terms in this case serve both as punishment and as a warning to others involved in gang activity. Community safety advocates often view such prosecutions as essential steps in reclaiming neighborhoods plagued by gang violence.
While the U.S. Attorney stated the sentences have dismantled the gang's leadership, it remains to be seen whether the gang will continue to operate under new command. However, the message from law enforcement is clear: those who engage in or facilitate gang-related violence will face severe consequences, regardless of their rank or role.
Unanswered Questions
Although the convictions have brought a measure of resolution, several aspects of the case remain opaque. The name of the murdered fellow gang member has not been released in the public statement. It is unknown whether the victim was indeed the person responsible for the Supreme Elite Chief's death, or whether the gang acted on suspicion alone. The government has not disclosed how it determined the internal motive, or whether any cooperating witnesses came forward from within the gang.
Additionally, the role of the unidentified fourth gang member present during the murder has not been addressed in this release. It is possible that person is the subject of a separate investigation or has not been charged. The status of any ongoing cases against other Unknown Vice Lords members tied to this criminal enterprise remains uncertain based solely on this announcement.
Readers should be cautious about drawing conclusions beyond what has been established in court. The legal process for Allen and Rodgers has concluded, but the broader investigation into the gang's activities may continue. Any new developments would may have be announced by the Department of Justice or the involved agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the defendants and what were they convicted of?
Edward Allen (aka E-Money) and Deandre Rodgers (aka Dre) were high-ranking Unknown Vice Lords convicted by a federal jury of causing death by use of a firearm during a crime of violence—murder in aid of racketeering. Vincent Grant (aka V-Slash) was convicted separately on the same charge for supplying the firearms.
What sentences did they receive?
Allen and Rodgers were each sentenced to 50 years in federal prison. Grant received a 24-year sentence. Under federal law, there is no parole, so they will serve most of these terms.
Why did they kill the fellow gang member?
After the gang's Supreme Elite Chief and his girlfriend were murdered in January 2019, the gang initially blamed a rival group but later suspected one of their own. They retaliated by murdering a fellow member they believed was responsible, using the killing to reinforce internal discipline and fear.
Which agencies investigated the case?
The primary investigative agency was the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Memphis Police Department, and U.S. Secret Service also assisted.
Does this mean the Unknown Vice Lords gang has been dismantled?
According to the U.S. Attorney, the sentences have dismantled the gang's leadership in Memphis. However, it is not publicly known whether other members or factions continue to operate. The federal violent crime initiative in Memphis remains active.
Sources
This article is based on public information released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and has been independently rewritten, summarized, and contextualized by Shadab Chow News. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FBI, the Department of Justice, any court, or any government agency. It may be updated as more confirmed information becomes available.