Charges filed against alleged gangs

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Prosecutors have filed multiple charges against alleged Southside gang members.

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry announced Wednesday that multiple charges have been filed against the alleged members of “Problem Child Gang” and the “Fountain Square Boyz”.

Both gangs operate in and around the Fountain Square neighborhood on the city’s Southside.

Charges filed against eight of the alleged Problem Child Gang members range from Class B felonies to Class A misdemeanors and include six counts of criminal gang activity, police say.

They have also been charged with corrupt business influence.

For the second time in its history, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office has utilized the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute against gang members.

As set forth in the probable cause affidavit, police began investigating the Problem Child Gang in April 2012. Police say that during the investigation, the PCG is alleged to be responsible for batteries, robberies, gun crimes, narcotic sales and graffiti.

The probable cause affidavit also describes that in order to maintain membership, the gang requires its members to commit felonies and/or the act of battery.

The affidavit describes how neighbors reported to police that gang members assaulted citizens unprovoked.

Five of the eight gang members are 17 years old or younger, but they are being charged as adults.

"We have made it clear that our goal is to dismantle criminal gangs in Marion County," said Prosecutor Curry. "The crimes that are generally associated with gang activity undermine the safety and stability of our neighborhoods, ultimately threatening the quality of life in our entire community. Our office is committed to fighting gangs to the fullest extent, which is why we continue to employ creative prosecution strategies, such as the state's RICO statute, in this effort."

Charges against the Fountain Square Boyz stemmed from a July 4 incident in Fountain Square where six alleged gang members were involved in a fight.

According to the affidavit, the alleged members “jumped” neighborhood teens because they believed they were Problem Child Gang members.

The two gangs reportedly had an ongoing feud.

The affidavit also describes the FSB is a known criminal gang on the Southside and are alleged to have committed batteries in intimidation of community members.

The six alleged FSB gang members are charged with one count of aggravated battery, a Class B felony, two counts of battery, a Class C felony, and one count of criminal gang activity, a Class D felony.

In June 2011, Curry and IMPD representatives announced the takedown of a violent eastside criminal street gang, Pop it Off Boyz.

Prosecutors filed 47 charges, ranging from Class A felonies to Class B misdemeanors.

Gang members received sentences ranging from one year of probation to 20 years in the Department of Correction. Their combined sentences total more than 67 years, police say.

The takedown resulted in the development of evidence leading to charges against gang member Anthony Shockley for the alleged murder of Clayton Battice on June 5, 2011.

Shockley's murder trial is set to begin later this year.