Four Deuce Oakland Crips Gang Member Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearms Charges (DOJ)

A multi-convicted felon who is a Crips gang member was sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison for drug and gun charges, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.

In September 2025, Christopher Jamiel Love, 46, of Dallas, Texas, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance (cocaine and phencyclidine (PCP)) and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. On Monday, March 2, 2026, he was sentenced to 248 months in federal prison by United States District Judge David Godbey.

Court records reflect that in January 2024, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF) agents initiated "Operation Blue Laces" to identify gang members who were engaged in criminal conduct along two main intersections within the Malcolm X Boulevard corridor of Dallas, Texas. According to court documents, "Operation Blue Laces" was initiated in part to address numerous complaints from residents living and working in the neighborhood that advised that Four Deuce Oakland Crip gang members had taken over the area and had created an environment of fear and lawlessness. Members and associates of the Four Deuce Oakland Crips wore jewelry and clothing that depicted the number "42" to show their allegiance to the gang, as depicted in the images below:

ATF agents identified multiple storefronts within the area that were operated by gang members and used to store numerous firearms and distribute drugs to customers. Agents also identified a residential block (2800 block of Casey Street) that was used as an open-air drug market where drugs were sold twenty-four hours a day by gang members and became known as the "Dead End."

In court documents, Love admitted that throughout 2024, he and another Four Deuce gang member utilized a residence located on the 3600 block of Malcolm X Boulevard, Dallas, Texas, to store quantities of Schedule I and Schedule II controlled substances that were later sold to customers on the "Dead End" by Love and others. On October 22, 2024, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at the residence and seized 210 grams of cocaine; 4.6 kilograms of phencyclidine (PCP); 9.8 grams of methamphetamine; 1.4 grams of heroin; one kilogram of K2; multiple kilograms of marijuana and four firearms used in furtherance of the drug conspiracy, depicted in the following images:

To date, ten defendants linked to the Four Deuce Oakland Crips gang that were identified in "Operation Blue Laces" have pled guilty to federal offenses including drug conspiracy, firearms charges and carjacking.

The investigation was conducted by ATF-Dallas Division and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Rick Calvert prosecuted the cases.

This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhoods.