Savage Life Gang Members Sentenced to Federal Prison on Racketeering Charges

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Two Davenport men were sentenced on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, in relation to a racketeering prosecution. Najawaun Marcus Quinn, 26, was sentenced to 408 months in federal prison for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Dimetri Alexander Smith, 30, was sentenced to 400 months in federal prison for two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and two counts of use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. In February 2023, both were found guilty of the charges following a 7-day jury trial.

According to public court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2016 and 2017, as members of Savage Life Boys (SLB), a Davenport-based street gang, Quinn and Smith were involved in multiple shootings.

In October 2016, Quinn and other SLB members encountered a man with whom he had been feuding sitting in a parked car at his residence on North Division Street in Davenport. They parked a short distance away and Quinn approached the man on foot. Quinn then fired numerous rounds at the man while he sat in his car. The man sustained a gunshot wound.

In January 2017, Smith, and co-defendants Austin Ruiz and Olajuwan Culbreath were at the NorthPark Mall when they saw a rival gang member. Smith, Ruiz, and Culbreath went to their car, where they had firearms. Culbreath drove to the mall entrance where they expected the rival gang member to exit. When they saw the rival gang member, Smith and Ruiz chased him through the mall parking lot, shooting at him.

In February 2017, Quinn, Smith, and co-defendants Culbreath, and Darion Gardner, and other SLB members started an altercation at a concert at the Hotel Davenport due to perceived disrespect for their gang. During the altercation, Gardner shot and killed one male and injured another.

In April 2017, Smith and Ruiz were at Centennial Park in Davenport when they saw a male who recently robbed another SLB member’s dice game. Ruiz, armed with a firearm, got out of their vehicle to confront the male. The men struggled over the firearm, which discharged, striking the male in the foot. Smith then joined the altercation, choking the male to unconsciousness to assist them in their flight.

Quinn and Smith committed these acts with the intent to maintain or increase position in the gang.

Following their prison terms, both Quinn and Smith must each serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

In April 2023, Ruiz was sentenced to 202 months in prison and Culbreath was sentenced to 152 months in prison. In December 2022, Gardner was sentenced to 450 months in prison.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal stated “We will continue to pursue and aggressively prosecute those individuals and groups of individuals that choose to commit violent crimes. This investigation, trial and hard work of our partners at the Davenport Police Department exemplifies our joint commitment to using every tool available to combat gun violence and protect the communities we serve.”

“We are proud of the hard work and dedication of our investigators and continued partnership with federal prosecutors to bring violent offenders to justice. Partnerships such as these are vital to keeping our community safe,” said Davenport Police Chief Jeffery E. Bladel.

The Davenport Police Department led this investigation, with assistance from the Peoria, Illinois Police Department.