Three members of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation (AVLN) have been sentenced in federal court following their conviction on charges of RICO conspiracy, murder, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses. United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced the sentences alongside James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The trial was held before United States District Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey and revealed that AVLN is a criminal organization involved in various illegal activities nationwide. The group operates through different branches with separate leadership structures reporting to a central board based in Chicago. This particular case focused on members from the Traveling Vice Lords branch in Detroit.
Terry Douglas, 44, Schuyler Belew, 31, and Devun Baskerville, 34—all from Detroit—were convicted for their roles within the organization. Douglas and Belew received sentences of 60 years each, while Baskerville was sentenced to 70 years.
The evidence demonstrated that these individuals engaged in racketeering activities including murder and narcotics trafficking. One notable incident presented at trial involved a daylight shooting at a park in Detroit where Baskerville fatally shot an individual suspected of cooperating with law enforcement under orders from Douglas and Belew. The victim's pregnant girlfriend was also targeted but survived despite being injured.
Lawon Carter was also found guilty of drug trafficking and weapons charges; his sentencing is scheduled for April 28, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Ison stated: "The sentences handed down in this case should send a clear message to violent offenders who terrorize our neighborhoods: we won’t stop until you are brought to justice."
Special Agent James Deir commented: "This case was a complete reckoning of this gang and should serve as a wake-up call for gang members across Michigan... if you pack an illegal firearm to threaten and intimidate people in our community – pack a bag. You’re going to go to federal prison."
The prosecution resulted from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation which involves cooperation among multiple law enforcement agencies including the Detroit Police Department and Michigan Department of Corrections.