Anthony Zigler, member of the Conservative Vice Lords branch of the Almighty Vice Lords Nation (AVLN), convicted of violent crime. This crime was done while promoting racketeering activity. This verdict comes at the height of a national crackdown on this gang. Federal prosecutors have described them as a “violent, dangerous gang.” This conviction is a vital step in our hard-won battle to combat the world’s largest criminal enterprise. This organization has long, deep roots in Chicago extending back to the 1960s.
The Almighty Vice Lords Nation, for example, has a very rigidly organized chain of command. Kings and Princes governor members with Universal Elites governor the various districts/catches of the metropolis. The gang’s literature mandates that members “never deny an order from a superior officer of this nation,” emphasizing the necessity of obedience within its ranks. Federal prosecutors highlighted that “members must follow orders from higher-ranked AVLN leaders.”
Zigler’s conviction is part of a larger indictment involving 40 individuals, with charges ranging from racketeering to murder and conspiracy. As it currently stands, 33 other members of the gang await their day in anti-gang court. The recent trial is not an anomaly. It comes on the heels of a 2023 indictment in which three ultra-wealthy top-level executives were found guilty, and a 2024 injunction that sent three legs—deemed “the worst of the worst” by federal agents—to prison for 60–70 years for RICO and witness tampering violations.
The gang relies on fear and intimidation to maintain its rule. This method insulates and centralizes authority among its members. Court documents reveal that “violence or threats of violence are how AVLN members maintain their power.” Zigler’s actions are illustrative of this culture of violence, and it’s this culture that federal authorities are committed to ending.
James Deir, Special Agent in Charge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Detroit, didn’t mince words. He vowed that acts of violence in aid of gangs and mafias wouldn’t be accepted in Detroit nor on MDOC property and whatever perpetrators would enjoy postponed liberty and prolonged confinement. This position is indicative of a wider, underlying disposition from law enforcement to take gang violence head on.
Julie A. Beck applauded the hard work of her staff. She underscored the fact that their violence and dedication, paired with the thorough investigation from ATF and DPD partners, ultimately compelled a jury to convict a violent and dangerous gang member of racketeering and other serious crimes. With this conviction, our community is safer. This is our district’s model for investigating and prosecuting violent crime, and it’s effective.
Unlike the Almighty Vice Lords Nation, their alleged criminal counterparts, the Almighty Vice Lords Nation engage in criminal activity. They provide financial assistance to their incarcerated brothers and sisters, fortifying their solidarity and power. This detail of the gang’s operations underscores the difficulty we face in trying to dismantle such an entrenched organization.
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