‘Playboy Blood’ gang members indicted

Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 | 4:50 p.m.

Ten Las Vegas men have been indicted on charges ranging from violent crimes to drug trafficking as part of their membership in a violent street gang known as the Playboy Bloods, said U.S. Attorney Greg Brower of Nevada.

The indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Tuesday was unsealed today, Brower said.

The indictment alleges that the Playboy Bloods operate in Las Vegas and are affiliated with the nationally known criminal gang the "Bloods," whose members engage in drug trafficking and violent acts.

The Playboy Bloods operate in the Sherman Gardens Annex housing complex, commonly known as the Jets, located at H and Doolittle streets. The Playboy Bloods are known for wearing red and black colors and a Playboy Bunny emblem. The indictment said gang members make money from the sale of crack cocaine.

The gang has a history of violence and conflicts with security officers who patrol the Jets. These conflicts have resulted in murder, attempted murder and assault and battery, the indictment said.

Specific incidents of violence cited in the indictment include:

• Defendants Markette "Ketty P" Tillman, 27, and Steven "Stevie-P" Booth, 23, allegedly murdered Brian Wilcox, a security guard at the Jets, on Jan. 20, 2004. Wilcox was shot in the back as he rode his bicycle away from a disturbance involving Tillman, Booth and others in front of 1723 Curran Way.

• Jacorey "Mo-B" Taylor, 26, Reginald "Bowlie" Dunlap, 26, and Steven "Stevie-P" Booth allegedly murdered Billy Thomas on Nov. 1, 2004 in the parking lot of the Pecos Terrace Apartments at 3555 E. Lake Mead Blvd. Thomas was shot multiple times in the back as he worked on a car.

In addition, Delvin "D-Luv" Ward, 32, Anthony "AK" and "Akim Slim" Mabry, 37, Demichael "Mikey P" Burks, 25, Fred James "June P" Nix, 32, Sebastian ""Rock" Wigg, 31, and Terrence "Seven" and "Seven A" Thomas, 34 are charged with conspiracy to engage in racketeer influenced corrupt organization and conspiracy to engage in drug trafficking, violent crime in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm during a crime of violence and possession with intent to distribute drugs.

If convicted, the defendants face up to life in prison on the racketeering charges, not less than 10 years in prison on firearm charges, to run consecutively with any other charge, not less than 10 years imprisonment on the drug trafficking charges and substantial fines.

Their sentences can also be increased by up to 10 years for committing crimes as part of a criminal street gang.

Additionally, defendants Tillman, Booth, Taylor and Dunlap could face the death penalty for the murders of Wilcox and Thomas, because it is alleged that the murders were intentionally committed with substantial planning and premeditation.

Defendants Ward, Burks and Wigg were arrested on Wednesday in Las Vegas. They appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy A. Leen and pleaded not guilty. Ward and Burks were detained. Wigg was released on a personal recognizance bond with conditions of home detention and electronic monitoring.

Defendant Nix was arrested in Las Vegas today and is scheduled for an initial hearing on Friday.

The remaining defendants are in Nevada state custody and are expected to appear in U.S. District Court on Nov. 7 for an arraignment and plea.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, North Las Vegas Police Department, Metro Police and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen Bliss and Nicholas D. Dickinson.