3 convicted in American Indian gang trial

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Three alleged members of a violent American Indian gang were convicted on several charges Tuesday in what authorities called one of the largest such cases to come out of Indian Country.

An alleged leader of the Native Mob, 34-year-old Wakinyon Wakan McArthur, was found guilty on several charges including racketeering conspiracy, but he was acquitted on an attempted murder charge. Two alleged gang "soldiers" — Anthony Francis Cree, 26, and William Earl Morris, 25 — were convicted of charges including attempted murder in aid of racketeering.

Authorities said the men participated in a criminal enterprise that used intimidation and violence to keep the gang in power. The three are the only defendants who didn't accept plea deals after 25 people were charged.

The racketeering charge is a tool rarely used against gangs, indicating the case is an attempt to take down the entire enterprise.

The 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment called the Native Mob one of the largest and most violent American Indian gangs in the U.S. It has about 200 members, with a structure that includes monthly meetings where members were encouraged to assault or murder enemies or anyone who showed disrespect, the indictment said.

Prosecutors said that in 2010, Morris tried to kill a man by shooting him multiple times while he was with his 5-year-old daughter. The indictment said the shooting was done at McArthur's bidding.

Frederick Goetz, McArthur's attorney, said during closing arguments that the case was one of monumental overreach.