Minneapolis Lows gang member pleads guilty in RICO case
Deontae "Leef" Jackson, 37, of Minneapolis has pleaded guilty in federal court to RICO conspiracy as part of a sweeping racketeering case against the Lows street gang, which prosecutors tie to murders, attempted murders, carjackings, firearms trafficking and drug dealing across the city. Jackson admitted conspiring to traffic narcotics, including at least 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl, acknowledging his role in the gang’s drug operation. He is the first of 14 alleged Lows members charged in the racketeering indictment to flip and enter a guilty plea, a key milestone in a case aimed at dismantling one of Minneapolis’ entrenched street gangs. The investigation is backed by a laundry list of agencies — ATF, FBI, DEA, IRS‑CI, HSI, Postal Inspectors, Minneapolis police, Hennepin County Sheriff, BCA and DOC — underscoring how seriously law enforcement is taking the gang’s impact on city violence and overdoses. A sentencing date will be set later, and how much time Jackson gets — and how much he cooperates — will say a lot about how hard the feds intend to lean on the rest of the defendants.
📌 Key Facts
- Deontae "Leef" Jackson, 37, of Minneapolis pleaded guilty April 3 to RICO conspiracy in U.S. District Court before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz.
- Jackson admitted participating in a conspiracy to distribute at least 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl as part of the Lows gang’s activities.
- He is the first of 14 defendants charged in the federal racketeering case against the Lows street gang to plead guilty.
- The indictment alleges the Lows conspired to commit murder, attempted murder, carjacking, firearms trafficking and drug trafficking in Minneapolis.
- The case is being investigated by ATF, FBI, DEA, IRS‑CI, HSI, USPIS, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota BCA, and Minnesota Department of Corrections, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
📊 Relevant Data
In Minnesota, the poverty rate for Black or African American residents is 22.5% compared to 7.5% for White residents in 2023.
Poverty Rates in Minnesota — Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
In Minneapolis, Black people compose about 18% of the population yet commit 88% of the homicides, according to a 2023 analysis.
Maligning Minneapolis — City Journal
African American Minnesotans are two times more likely to die from a drug overdose than White Minnesotans.
Differences in Rates of Drug Overdose Deaths by Race — Minnesota Department of Health
The population of Minneapolis is 18.77% Black or African American.
Minneapolis, Minnesota Population 2026 — World Population Review
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