(WTTW News)
Five reputed Chicago gang members are facing multiple racketeering charges, including the alleged murder of Carlton Weekly, a local rapper known as “FBG Duck,” who was gunned down in broad daylight in the Gold Coast last year.
Federal prosecutors on Wednesday announced charges against five members of the O-Block street gang, accusing them of participating in a criminal organization responsible for Weekly’s murder and of “violently” protecting the gang and its territories on the South Side.
“If this gives pause — even one minute of pause to somebody who might think it’s a cool thing to do, to get on video, to bring out some guns, to talk about how I’m gonna shoot somebody — if this gives pause to them, then we’re doing something good," U.S. Attorney John Lausch said during a press conference Wednesday. "We’re doing a lot good and we’re gonna continue to do more of this.”
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Charles “C Murda” Liggins, Kenneth “Kenny” Roberson, Tacarlos “Los” Offerd, Christopher “C Thang” Thomas and Marcus “Muwop” Smart are each charged with committing murder in aid of racketeering.
The men have also been charged with federal firearm violations and assaults in aid of racketeering. Four of the men were arrested Wednesday morning, while Roberson was already in the custody of the Cook County Department of Corrections.
Four of those defendants — Liggins, Offerd, Thomas and Smart — entered not guilty pleas Wednesday afternoon during a telephonic hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman.
Roberson’s initial court appearance had not yet been scheduled as of Wednesday.
Weekly, 26, was fatally shot on East Oak Street on the afternoon of Aug. 4, 2020 after four men got out of two vehicles and opened fire, according to Chicago police. Two other victims were also shot, but survived.
Those vehicles fled the scene and no arrests were made at the time.
The murder counts carry a mandatory minimum life sentence upon conviction, and a maximum potential sentence of the death penalty, according to federal prosecutors.
The indictment was announced Wednesday by Lausch, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI Emmerson Buie, Jr. and Police Superintendent David Brown.
“This is the message we want to send that you’ll be held accountable to the highest possible (level),” Brown said. “It’s the message that we are serious about our collaboration together.”
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
