OAKLAND — They dressed in their Sunday best, donning tuxedos, skin tight dresses and velvet, with gold or diamonds around their necks and fingers. They lined up for mouthwatering buffets, bet high at the craps table and dined on a birthday cake adorned with blue frosting, sugar dice and $100 bills, all according to court records.
After all, federal prosecutors say, many of the attendees had quite a bit to celebrate. They had gathered there on Dec. 22, 2022 for the 32nd birthday of a man named Aramiya Burrell. But he and several other partygoers were allegedly part of a prolific robbery crew comprising members of Oakland’s Ghost Town Gang.
For much of 2022, the group had pulled off high-stakes, violent takeover robberies, federal prosecutors say. The Ghost Town gang has existed in a West Oakland neighborhood of the same name for decades, and rivals with other local gangs like Case and Acorn. Over the years, its members have been linked to major drug rings, murder and street robberies, authorities say. In 2022, however, the group reportedly set its sights on risky, violent heists with large payouts. More than once, victims were left hospitalized, according to court records…