Three members of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation (AVLN) gang—Terry Douglas, Schuyler Belew, and Devun Baskerville—have been sentenced to decades in prison after being convicted of RICO conspiracy, murder, drug trafficking, and weapons charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced today.
The sentences were issued following a federal trial that revealed the trio’s involvement in numerous violent and criminal activities, including narcotics trafficking, witness intimidation, and murder. A federal jury convicted the men on April 23, and the sentences were handed down as follows:
Terry Douglas, 44, Michigan leader of the Traveling Vice Lords and known as “Chief,” was sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Schuyler Belew, 31, the Detroit leader of the gang, also known as “Universal Elite,” received a 60-year sentence.
Devun Baskerville, 34, the gang’s “Chief Enforcer,” was sentenced to 70 years in prison.
The trial uncovered details of a shooting in Detroit, where Baskerville, under the orders of Douglas and Belew, killed a man suspected of cooperating with law enforcement. Baskerville also fired at the victim’s pregnant girlfriend, injuring her but fortunately sparing her children, who were also in the vehicle.
“This case serves as a reminder that we will relentlessly pursue justice for those who harm our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison. She added that the sentences should bring some level of closure to the victim’s family.