Links of Belizean Bloods in Utah case

Jerry Hunter

On Thursday night we told you about the almost two dozen Belizeans who have been arrested in the U.S in connection with a number of drug related charges. According to a U.S media, the Belizeans are all connected to the Bloods Gang. Principal among Belizeans is twenty nine year old Jerry D. Johnson, who was arrested in Salt Lake City. Johnson, federal authorities believe, was responsible for directing the gang’s drug trade in Chicago. In addition to Jerry Johnson, charged in the Utah indictment are:

Courey Ottley

Jerry Hunter, Courey Ottley (a former employee of the Water and Sewage Authority, now BWS), Jonathan Benns, Makayla Walls, Javon Brackman,  Austin Herron,  Maurice Lee, Bladis Bazoko, Robert McIff,  Dwayne McCray,  Dana Byrd, Simon Diaz, Luis Diaz, Jerry Hunter, Jameson Debow, Perry Williams, Sammy Levels, and Amy El-Emar, all of Salt Lake City; and Leonard Soberanis of Chicago. All 19 were named in a 25-count federal indictment unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. The indictments came after the FBI launched an investigation of the gang in Illinois some two to three years ago.

Jerry Johnson

According to the Deseret News, “Matt Larson, supervisor of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, said the Belizeans Bloods weren’t previously on local gang units’ radar screens. “We’re just starting to see this group become active in Utah,” he said, adding the gang is not easy to detect because it takes a “subtle” and “sophisticated” approach to criminal activity. Belizean Bloods, he said, won’t be found in clubs where drugs are commonly sold.”

Luis Diaz

Lead investigator, David Johnson would not discuss any evidence authorities seized. During the investigation in Chicago, agents seized bulk amounts of powder and crack cocaine, firearms, assault rifles and cash.”  All 11 made appearances in federal court this week. Some were released pending trial, while others remain incarcerated, including alleged ringleader Jerry Johnson. A former Belizean Bloods member told agents that Jerry Johnson inherited his father’s drug connections when his father was deported to Belize, according to the U.S. attorney in Illinois. Some of his supply sources included narcotics from Belize.

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