Eighteen members and associates of Selma-based street gang  called the “MLK gang” was indicted Friday with narcotics conspiracy and firearms offenses in Mobile Federal Court.

Seven defendants were taken into custody this week, while the other seven defendants were already in state custody. Six of the defendants were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sonja F. Bivins.

The indictments were announced Friday by United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama and DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam. Both are glad to see crime in Selma slowing down.

“The city of Selma has been plagued too long with a high level of violent crime that we are determined to stop,’’ Moore said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to increase our presence in Selma and we are asking the residents of Selma to join us in making their streets safe again.”

“The damage caused by drugs and violence affects everyone across the nation, including towns like Selma, Alabama,” Azzam said. “Our neighborhoods deserve to exist without fear and intimidation inflicted by violent drug gangs.

Chois Harris was arrested in northern Alabama and was presented and arraigned before Magistrate Judge Herman N. Johnson, Jr. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama Thursday. The case is assigned to United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock.

The MLK gang, comprised of “DTE” gang members and “Crips” affiliated individuals, concentrated in the processing of cocaine into crack cocaine and its distribution in and around the Martin Luther King Street area of Selma, Alabama. To protect its crack distribution location, the MLK gang maintained a ready supply of firearms, including handguns, shotguns, and semi-automatic rifles. These weapons were often used by the MLK Gang against rival crack cocaine traffickers.

Count One of the Indictment charges Damian Rogers, aka DTE Li’ Dame, aka A1 Dame, Keisha West, aka Treece, Irvin West, aka Trippy, aka Moo Moo, Mitchell Williams Jr., aka Mini Man, aka Many Man, aka Man E. Man, Jamarcus Brenson, aka DTE Lisavage, aka L’il Savage, aka Savage, aka Cheese, Kareen Walker, aka, Chrome, Jeremiah Brown, aka UNC, Earl Goldsby, aka Iron head, Leo Carter, aka Bo Peep, Jamarrious Shaw, aka Dukey Duke, Juwon Howard, J’Quahn Harville, aka DTE Melo, aka Melo, aka Rahmel, Choiis Harris, Kentrevius Washington, aka Trey, James Cartez Lee, aka Knack Knack, Jon Gary, aka Roun, Horace Craig, aka Honey Bee, and Jarrell Pritchett, aka Rell, participating in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute crack cocaine.

Count Nine of the Indictment charges Rogers, West, Brenson, Brown, Goldsby, Shaw, Howard, Harville, Harris, Wasahington, Lee, and Craig with participating in a conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

If convicted of the drug conspiracy in Count One, the defendants could be imprisoned from a minimum of five to a maximum of 40 years. If convicted of the firearm conspiracy in Count Nine, the defendants could be imprisoned up to 20 years.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Fourth Circuit Drug Task Force out of the Dallas County District Attorney’s office, Selma Police Department (SPD), the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and Alabama Attorney General’s office. Assist U.S. Attorney Luis F. Peral is handling prosecution of the case for the U.S.

The charges contained in an indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.