RICO Investigation Leads to Arrests of Gang Members

A recent investigation into racketeering and corruption by the FBI, in collaboration with the Arlington, Texas Police Department, resulted in the arrest of 21 gang members. These individuals face serious charges, including racketeering, murder, extortion, drug trafficking, and assault related to gun crimes.

This operation specifically targeted the Kickdo gang, which has been linked to violent activities across the Dallas/Fort Worth area. According to FBI Director Kash Patel, approximately 450 law enforcement officers—both local and federal—took part in the investigation and subsequent arrests.

The probe began in April 2024 after the shooting death of a gang member on an Arlington high school campus. This incident appears to have triggered retaliatory violence between Kickdo and other gangs in the area, as noted by law enforcement officials.

Court documents suggest that members of the Kiccdoe gang exhibited a troubling history of violence, including murders, drive-by shootings, and drug trafficking involving substances like fentanyl and marijuana. Allegedly, these actions terrorized communities in Arlington and other parts of North Texas over about three years, from early 2022 through 2025.

Authorities identified the gang’s roots in the 600 block of East Arkansas Lane in Arlington. To show their gang affiliation, members often used terms like “kiccdoe,” “KDN” (short for “Kiddo Nation”), “6,” and “600” in their social media posts, along with wearing identifiable clothing. They also created and shared online content related to their criminal activities, according to official sources.

A criminal complaint filed recently claims that Kick-Do members, referred to as “stripers,” engaged in violent acts to bolster their standing in the gang and uphold its feared reputation. The specific violent crimes mentioned in the indictment include one count of murder, six counts of attempted murder, and multiple counts of robbery and assault.

Authorities argue that the gang sustained its operations through the ongoing sale of drugs, particularly fentanyl and marijuana, utilizing violence to maintain control, profit, and dominance in the area, while instilling fear in victims.

The individuals charged in the complaint include:

• Michael Mensah, 18, from Grand Prairie, Texas
• Rafael Opare, 19, from Arlington, Texas
• Diren Opare, 20, living in Arlington, Texas
• Isaiah Wiley, 21, from Dallas, Texas
• Kyron Oates, 22, from Grand Prairie, Texas
• Vernell Woods, 19, from Arlington, Texas
• DeMarco Westmoreland, 19, from Mansfield, Texas
• Cortez Atkinson, 18, from Fort Worth, Texas
• Bradley MacArthur Jr., 21, from Fort Worth, Texas
• DaTraven Warren, 18, from Mansfield, Texas
• Saderick Wilson, 22, from Fort Worth, Texas
• Joseph Hill, 18, from Fort Worth, Texas
• Chauncey Ross, 22, from Arlington, Texas
• Marcus Shaw, 20, from Arlington, Texas
• Keyshawn Burton, 20, from Arlington, Texas
• Ramalion Austin, 21, from Dallas, Texas
• Blake Aaron Scott, 22, from Arlington, Texas
• Sir James Mack Williams, 21, from Arlington, Texas
• Jalen Jeshawn Franklin, 22, from Arlington, Texas
• Jamarion Manogin, 20, living in Forney, Texas
• JaKayla Totten, 21, from DeSoto, Texas

The criminal complaint was filed on November 4, and all defendants have made initial appearances before a federal judge as of Thursday.