Bloods Leader Arrested For Racketeering And Murder

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations ("HSI"), Pete Gizas, and the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"), Jessica S. Tisch, announced the unsealing of a four-count Indictment charging CANDICE JOHNSTON, a/k/a "Queen," with racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, murder through the use of a firearm, and conspiring to traffic firearms in connection with JOHNSTON's long-running leadership of the Red Life Militia gang, one of the sets of the nationwide Bloods gang. JOHNSTON was arrested this morning and was presented today in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan.

"As alleged, Candice Johnston, known as 'Queen,' was a leader of a violent set of the Bloods gang calling themselves the Red Life Militia," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "During Johnston's reign, on May 31, 2017, she ordered the brutal robbery and murder of Noel Farrow in the Bronx. The people of the Bronx did not ask for, want, or deserve a destructive, self-proclaimed 'militia,' led by criminals in their neighborhood. New Yorkers deserve to live safely in their neighborhoods, free from the influence of gangs like that which Johnston led and glorified. The women and men of this Office will continue to relentlessly pursue and dismantle violent street gangs that jeopardize the safety of our communities."

"As alleged, Candice Johnston led a violent Bloods set built on murder, armed robbery, gun and narcotics trafficking, promotion of prostitution, and other serious crimes," said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas. "By allegedly directing the robbery and murder of a former drug supplier and receiving illegal firearms trafficked from North Carolina to the Bronx, she stands accused of introducing lethal firepower and bloodshed into a Bronx neighborhood. Together with our law enforcement partners, HSI will do everything in our power to keep New Yorkers safe."

"Candice Johnston served as the leader of the Bloods' Red Life Milita, allegedly trafficking guns and drugs across the city, brazenly touting her gang affiliation on social media, and ordering the cold-blooded murder of a drug supplier," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. "Her arrest is the direct result of the NYPD's precision policing strategy at work: dismantling gangs, taking guns off our streets, and holding those who commit violence accountable. I thank HSI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York for their partnership in this case and their continued work to keep New Yorkers safe."

As alleged in the Indictment, other publicly filed documents, and statements made in court:(1)

JOHNSTON was the leader of the Red Life Militia, a subset of the United Blood Nation ("UBN"), a faction of the nationwide Bloods street gang. The Red Life Militia gang engaged in, among other activities, acts involving murder, assault, gun trafficking, narcotics trafficking, promotion of prostitution, and robberies. JOHNSTON frequently publicized her leadership in Red Life Militia through social media, displaying gang signs, tattoos, and other insignia of the gang, some of which include the following:

On May 31, 2017, JOHNSTON ordered a subordinate member of her gang to rob and murder Noel Farrow-a former drug supplier to the gang-in the Bronx, New York, which resulted in Farrow's death from gunshot wounds.

JOHNSTON also received firearms that had been illegally obtained in North Carolina and transported to JOHNSTON in the Bronx.

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JOHNSTON, 44, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum term of life in prison or death; murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison or death; and conspiracy to receive firearms from out of state, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison.

The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of Special Agents and Task Force Officers of HSI, the NYPD and their Intelligence Section, the Digital Forensics Unit, and the Complex Analytics and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, as well as the Special Agents and Task Force Officers assigned to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its invaluable assistance.

The case is being handled by the Office's Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexandra S. Messiter and Michael R. Herman are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

1. ^

   As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.