A Tennessee Bloods gang member was sentenced today to serve 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release for his role in a violent racketeering conspiracy.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney David Rivera of the Middle District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Glenn N. Anderson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division made the announcement.   The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger of the Middle District of Tennessee.

Kenneth Gaddie, aka “K.G.,” 24, of Nashville, Tennessee, pleaded guilty on May 23, 2014, and was the last of 37 gang members to be convicted in the Middle District of Tennessee for involvement in the Bloods gang.

According to court documents, from 2006 through December 2011, Gaddie was a member of the Bloods gang.  He and other Bloods gang members committed multiple acts of murder, robbery and narcotics trafficking on behalf of the gang.

Gaddie and other Bloods gang members met at various locations in the Nashville area, including Shelby Park, Cedar Hill Park and the Galaxy Star Drug Awareness and Gang Prevention Center, on a regular basis to report on gang-related business, collect dues, commit disciplinary actions against fellow gang members, discuss acts of violence against rival gang members and initiate or “jump in” new members by beating them.

Further, according to court documents, on June 25, 2008, Gaddie shot and wounded an individual on behalf of the gang.  Less than one month after this incident, on July 17, 2008, Gaddie and others shot at another individual.

The investigation was conducted by the ATF; the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department; the U.S. Marshals Service; the La Vergne, Tennessee, Police Department; and the Davidson County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office.  The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Kevin L. Rosenberg of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scarlett S. Nokes of the Middle District of Tennessee.