Two alleged members of a Houston street gang known as Free Money, Terry and Travonte Ardoin, have been indicted on charges of murder and attempted murder following a shootout at a local shopping center. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Ardoins are accused of a brazen daylight attack tied to an ongoing gang conflict.
On a June afternoon in 2022, the Ardoins are alleged to have trailed their victims in a Black Nissan Altima, waiting as one entered a store, and then, wearing masks, they fired upon the car when the shopper returned, striking both occupants. Following the incident, police arrived to find one victim dead at the scene. According to court documents, the Free Money gang engages in a variety of violent criminal activities, including drug distribution, robbery, and home invasions.
The charges leveled against the Ardoins could lead to life imprisonment or the possibility of the death penalty, as they stand accused of murder and attempted murder in aid of racketeering, among other charges. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Brown and Trial Attorney Ralph Paradiso of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section…