Member of a Violent National Gang Convicted of Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering in Detroit

DETROIT – After a week-long trial in federal court, a jury convicted Anthony Zigler, a member of the Almighty Vice Lords Nation of Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering (VCAR), Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced today.

Beck was joined in the announcement by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Evidence at trial proved the Almighty Vice Lords Nation (AVLN) was a sprawling criminal enterprise which committed acts of violence, drug dealing, and other crimes, across the country.  The trial involved a member of the Conversative Vice Lord branch of the AVLN. The jury specifically found that Zigler committed a violent prison stabbing to maintain or increase his position within the gang.  The evidence at trial showed that Zigler stabbed the victim fifteen times with a prison-made knife in the head, neck, and abdomen, puncturing his lungs. The jury convicted Zigler of VCAR. Zigler faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

“The thorough and dedicated work of attorneys in our office combined with the detailed investigation done by our ATF and DPD partners convinced a jury to find a violent and dangerous gang member guilty of serious crimes. With this conviction, our community is safer. Our district’s approach to violent crime investigations and prosecutions works,” Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck said.

“Yesterday’s verdict proves once again that the Almighty Vice Lord Nation has been crippled locally and nationally.  Their dismantling is another example of how senseless violence is being dealt with in Detroit.  Anthony Ziegler's willingness to partake in gang-ordered violence had far-reaching consequences.  He now has a federal VCAR felony conviction on his extensive criminal pedigree and should be out of commission for a very long time.  Violent acts in furtherance of a criminal organization will not be tolerated in Detroit or in our prisons and will immediately result in delayed freedom, because you’re not going anywhere but back to prison……for an extended period of time,” said ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “The ATF and our federal, state and local partners will continue to target violent gang members wherever they operate, street or prison it makes no difference, if you're pushing violence for your crew, we're coming.” 

This is the third trial in the Eastern District of Michigan in approximately a year and a half involving the Almighty Vice Lord Nation. In November 2023, three national leaders of the gang were convicted of RICO conspiracy and other crimes, and in April 2024, three gang members were convicted of RICO conspiracy and other crimes, and a fourth defendant was convicted of drug offenses, in federal court in Detroit.