Several of Young Nudy’s PDE affiliates have been indicted on RICO charges for their alleged role in a multi-state insurance fraud scheme.
According to prosecutors, they allegedly took about $70,000 from COVID-19 relief funds by unlawfully using personal information from over 100 Fulton County residents to access CARES Act funds.
Earlier this week, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office revealed the arrests, marking the end of a 30-month investigation spanning various jurisdictions that targeted numerous “associates of the PDE criminal street gang.”
The eight individuals indicted by a grand jury are Shadarian Mitchell, 34; Caren Mitchell, 54; Dontavious Cheeks, 33; Kenneth Long, 35; Brittany Parks, 28; Kareem Durham, 27; Julian Rabun, 39; and Zemekia Davis, 34.
Each faces charges for violating the Georgia RICO (Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations) Act, breaching the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, participating in a conspiracy to defraud the state, and committing identity fraud.
“The White Collar Crime Unit spent more than two years investigating this case, which came to our attention out of a series of gang-related homicide investigations in early 2021,” said White Collar Crime Unit Deputy District Attorney Will Wooten.
“We spent countless hours combing through cell phone evidence, social media evidence, bank records, and other documents, and we intend to hold accountable all of the individuals charged by the grand jury in this case.”
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis added: “Whether they are shooting or stealing, criminal street gangs will be prosecuted by my office for the crimes they commit in Fulton County using every tool available under the law. If gangs choose to turn to white-collar crimes to fund their illegal activities, we will be waiting with indictments in hand.”
George Chidi, a crime reporter, examined the indictment and doubted any connection between the accused and Nudy’s PDE label.
“If there are rappers in there, I can’t see them,” he said on Twitter. “There’s nothing obvious in this indictment about a connection between PDE, the street gang, and anyone signed to the PDE label. There’s none of the Instagram gang photos, lyrics, or other stuff we see in other gang cases.”
