First man sentenced in racketeering case

Jace Radke

Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2004 | 8:51 a.m.

The first of 22 alleged members of the Rolling 60s street gang indicted last year was sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to federal racketeering charges in connection with murders, robberies and drug operations that date back to 1992.

Ronnie "Ronnie O" Gibson, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks to nine years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.

Gibson is one of 21 alleged gang members who were indicted in August 2003 on racketeering charges. The 88-count indictment alleging violent crime and drug trafficking was later amended to include charges against a 22nd alleged gang member.

Five other gang members have also pleaded guilty, but have yet to be sentenced. The rest are tentatively scheduled to go to trial next year.

Authorities allege that the gang members, as a group, terrorized a Las Vegas neighborhood by running drug houses, selling crack cocaine, aiding child prostitution and participating in a violent gang war with a rival group.

By pleading guilty to the second RICO conspiracy count in the indictment, Gibson admitted to being involved in the Rolling 60s Crips gang, acknowledged that the gang ran drug houses and sold cocaine and that the gang used violence to control drug sales in certain areas of Las Vegas.

Gibson also admitted that he sold 84 grams of cocaine.