On Dec. 11, investigators with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested 22 people as part of Operation Gang Shield, a seven-month, multi-agency probe into criminal activity tied to the violent street gang Sex, Money, Murder. Among those arrested was Ramil Emmanuel Saqaun Dickerson, 23, of Phenix City, who was charged with four counts of compelling street gang membership.
Sex, Money, Murder, known as a faction of the United Blood Nation, was founded in the late 1980s in New York City. The group is associated with hierarchical structure and involvement in violent crime, narcotics offenses, and organized conspiracies in multiple states. In recent years, the gang has expanded into smaller southeastern communities.
The investigation by the LCSO and its state and federal partners began in May. Investigators focused on identifying key participants, disrupting networks, and restoring safety to affected neighborhoods. The 22 people arrested face a total of 79 charges, including violations of the Alabama Criminal Enterprise Prevention Act, violent offenses, firearms offenses, fraud, and narcotics charges. Searches executed during the investigation yielded eight firearms, some linked to shootings in Alabama, and other evidence of ongoing organized criminal activity…