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Photo from gang video
Eight members of Band Crew, a northwest Detroit street gang that wreaked havoc around the 7 Mile and Southfield Freeway area, were charged in a federal indictment with committing a range of crimes including murder, robbery and shootings, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.
Authorities said the charges were the result of the Detroit One initiative, a collaborative effort between law enforcement and the community to reduce violent crime in Detroit.
The indictment alleged that Band Crew was an association comprised of smaller gangs, including Constantly Making Hundreds (CMH), Young N Crispy (YNC), Pushit (or Pusha) Boy Family (PBF), and Family Over Everything Love is Forever (FOE Life).
Authorities allege that the gang claimed its territory by “tagging” buildings with gang-related graffiti, including markings such as “#22 BandCrew,” “BAND CREW,” “22 BAND CREW,” “YNCMH” and “PBF.”
Specifically, the gang considered its territory to be: Seven Mile Road, with the Southfield Freeway to the west, West McNichols Road to the south, Eight Mile Road to the north, and Greenfield Road to the east.
All the defendants are in custody, according to a Justice Department press release.
Band Crew members signified their affiliation with the gang through the use of tattoos, clothing, hand signs, statements made on social media and photographing themselves with other Band Crew members and associates, the indictment said.
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The indictment also stated that Band Crew members and associates used social networking websites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Keek, and YouTube to post photographs, videos, and statements that identified and highlighted the existence of the gang.
