Minneapolis Lows gang member pleads guilty in RICO case
Deontae “Leef” Jackson, 37, has pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of RICO conspiracy tied to the Lows, a long‑standing criminal street gang based in north Minneapolis. Prosecutors say Jackson admitted conspiring to traffic at least 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl as part of the gang’s narcotics operation; he is the first of 14 defendants indicted in the sweeping RICO case to enter a guilty plea. The investigation is supported by a broad coalition of federal, state and local agencies — including the ATF, FBI, DEA, IRS‑CI, Homeland Security Investigations, Postal Inspectors, Minneapolis Police, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the BCA and the Department of Corrections — and Jackson’s sentencing date has not yet been set, with officials saying the severity of his eventual punishment may depend in part on any cooperation he provides against co‑defendants.
The plea comes against a backdrop of broader patterns in criminal justice and violence that help explain why authorities have pursued a RICO approach. Nationally, Black people make up a disproportionate share of gang memberships and, in Minnesota, Black offenders accounted for 16.6% of drug offense convictions in 2023 despite representing roughly 7% of the state population, underscoring persistent racial disparities in drug enforcement and prosecution. At the same time, research emphasizing the role of place in driving homicide and violence suggests that gangs like the Lows can have an outsized impact on specific neighborhoods over time, which helps explain sustained, localized federal and local responses.
Public reaction has been mixed: some observers and local commentators hailed the plea as a turning point for a high‑profile prosecution — with supporters pointing to the use of RICO as part of a prosecutorial legacy aimed at dismantling organized gangs — while others on social media questioned whether Jackson will cooperate with prosecutors or expressed broader skepticism about patterns of crime and enforcement in Minneapolis. Jackson’s plea marks a significant step forward for prosecutors, but the broader case and potential implications for other defendants will depend on how his cooperation and subsequent proceedings unfold.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2019, 88.5% of Black homicide victims in the US were killed by Black offenders, indicating that homicides are largely intra-racial.
Expanded Homicide Data Table 6 — FBI Uniform Crime Reporting
In 2023, Black offenders accounted for 16.6% of drug offense convictions in Minnesota (644 out of 3,878), compared to their approximately 7% share of the state population.
2023 Sentencing Practices Report — Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission
Nationally, 39% of gang members are Black or African American, compared to their 13% share of the US population.
National Youth Gang Survey Analysis: Demographics — National Gang Center
Nationally in 2023, 49.7% of Black children lived in single-parent households, compared to 20.2% of White children.
Living arrangements of children by race/ethnicity, 1970-2023 — Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
📌 Key Facts
- Deontae “Leef” Jackson, 37, has entered a guilty plea in federal court to one count of RICO conspiracy.
- Jackson admitted he conspired to traffic at least 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl as part of the Lows gang’s narcotics operation.
- He is the first of 14 defendants indicted in this RICO case to plead guilty, a key turning point in the prosecution.
- The case is backed by a broad coalition of federal, state and local agencies, including ATF, FBI, DEA, IRS‑CI, HSI, U.S. Postal Inspectors, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the BCA and the state Department of Corrections.
- Jackson’s sentencing date has not been set; the severity of his sentence is expected to hinge in part on his cooperation against remaining co‑defendants.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms that Deontae “Leef” Jackson, 37, has formally entered a guilty plea in federal court to one count of RICO conspiracy.
- Details that Jackson admitted conspiring to traffic at least 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl as part of the Lows gang’s narcotics operation.
- Clarifies that he is the first of 14 indicted Lows defendants in this RICO case to plead guilty, marking a key turning point in the prosecution.
- Reiterates that the case is backed by a broad coalition of federal, state and local agencies (ATF, FBI, DEA, IRS‑CI, HSI, Postal Inspectors, MPD, Hennepin County Sheriff, BCA, DOC), underscoring its scope.
- Indicates that Jackson’s sentencing date has not yet been set and that the severity of his sentence is expected to hinge in part on his cooperation against remaining co‑defendants.