Arlington gang members get prison time after pleading guilty to federal charges
Twenty-one members of a violent Arlington street gang have pleaded guilty to federal racketeering and other related charges, and one of them was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for murder, according to a Department of Justice news release.
Prosecutors say Chauncey Ross, 22, fatally shot a man and shot and injured a woman who was trying to shield a baby with her body, the release states. He later recorded a rap song bragging about the killing.
“I hope the citizens of Arlington feel safer knowing that these gang members are behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould in the release. “Through his conduct, defendant Ross earned the life sentence he received, and I hope his sentence serves as a warning to all gang members in our community.”
Ross, along with 20 other suspects thought to be affiliated with the criminal street gang Kiccdoe, were arrested in November. The gang originated in the 600 block of East Arkansas Lane in east Arlington and has been a major driver of violent crime in the city over the past several years, according to police. Arlington Police Chief Al Jones said police have documented 180 criminal incidents involving the gang, including shootings, robberies, aggravated assaults and drug offenses.
Investigators determined that a 2024 shooting at Bowie High School that killed an 18-year-old student was in retaliation for an assault committed by Kiccdoe gang members earlier that year, police said. The FBI started investigating the gang in April 2024 in partnership with the Arlington Police Department.
In addition to Ross, seven other defendants have been sentenced after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy or other charges connected with their gang involvement.
Cortez Atkinson of Fort Worth was given nearly 15 years in prison, according to the release. During his sentencing hearing, prosecutors said the 19-year-old started a gang-related shootout at an Arlington apartment complex. A 13-year-old girl was injured after being struck by a stray bullet while she was in her bedroom.
Kyron Oates of Grand Prairie received a sentence of nearly 16 years. Prosecutors have said the 22-year-old was one of two shooters in a February 2024 premeditated attempted murder, according to the release.
KeyShawn Burton of Arlington was given a sentence of nearly 11 years. The 21-year-old trafficked drugs and conspired online with other Kiccdoe members to shoot and kill someone in a rival gang, the release states.
Jaylen Jeshawn Franklin of Arlington was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. The 23-year-old conspired with other Kiccdoe gang members to carry out two drive-by shootings, according to the release.
Sir James Mack Williams of Arlington received a sentence of nearly 8 years in federal prison. Prosecutors have said the 22-year-old defendant was a shooter in two separate drive-by shootings in Arlington.
Raphael Opare of Arlington was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for a variety of offenses. According to the release, the 19-year-old trafficked drugs and admitted to conspiring with other Kiccdoe members to kill someone from a rival gang in retaliation for a shooting.
JaMarion Manogin of Forney received a year in prison for using a phone to sell drugs. The 20-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of use of a communication facility in causing or facilitating the commission of a felony, the release states.
Thirteen other defendants connected with the Kiccdoe gang have pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy or related charges are set to be sentenced in the next few weeks:
- 21-year-old Bradley McArthur Jr. of Fort Worth
- 19-year-old Vernell Woods of Arlington
- 21-year-old LaMarion Austin of Dallas
- 21-year-old Isaiah Wiley of Dallas
- 18-year-old Joseph Hill of Fort Worth
- 20-year-old Marcus Shaw of Arlington
- 22-year-old Sadedrick Wilson of Fort Worth
- 20-year-old Dillen Opare of Arlington
- 18-year-old DaTraven Warren of Mansfield
- 19-year-old DeMarco Westmoreland of Mansfield
- 18-year-old Michael Mensah of Grand Prairie
- 21-year-old Jakayla Totten of DeSoto
- 22-year-old Blake Aaron Scott of Arlington
This story was originally published June 6, 2026 at 12:19 PM.
