United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SAN DIEGO – Westside Crips gang member William McKinley Bright today became the last of 12 defendants to plead guilty, admitting that he participated in a racketeering conspiracy involving narcotics trafficking, sex trafficking and other violent crimes.

Bright, aka “Slim,” admitted to his membership and association with the Westside Crips, which primarily operated in Oceanside. Sentencing for Bright is scheduled for May 3, 2019. 

In furtherance of the RICO conspiracy, Bright admitted he engaged in multiple narcotics transactions at a local hotel in Oceanside as well as other places in San Diego and Vista, in order to promote the Westside Crips. Bright admittedly sold gram-quantities of methamphetamine between October 2014 and May 2015. Bright also acknowledged that he was an active and productive member of the Westside Crips who promoted the gang through use of social media as well as wearing gang colors and displaying gang signs. Bright admitted that the conspiracy in which he was involved resulted in the distribution of at least 150 grams but less than 500 grams of methamphetamine in San Diego County. 

“Drugs corrupt. Corruption leads to addiction, greed and violence. Utilizing one of the United States' most powerful tools against violent criminal organizations like the Westside Crips--a RICO conspiracy--united law enforcement agencies banish and destroy whole organizations,” said U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Karen Flowers. “It isn’t easy, it isn’t quick and it takes an incredible amount of work. But it is the strongest message that can be sent to organized crime. It might not be today or tomorrow, but we are relentless. We will come for you, and when you are gone, our streets will be safer and our communities stronger.”

In 2017 and 2018, Bright’s co-conspirators pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy. They include: Corey Deshawn Austin (aka “Westwood”), Ameer Fareed Roby (aka “Tiny Dum Dum”), Michael Anthony Sullivan (aka “Du-Low”), Peter Andrew Miranda (aka “Fat Boy,” “Baby Rocks,” and “Lil’ Burger”), Shane Robert Anderson (aka “Tiny Westwood”), Jasiri Malcolm Lacey (aka “Baby Westwood”), Demetrius Montre McFarland (aka Mechii Ruu”), Travion McHenry (aka “Too Much”), Richard Cleveland (aka “Face”), Larry Darnell Monroe, and Umesh Oza (aka “Kevin”). All but Corey Deshawn Austin were sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from four months to 180 months. Austin is scheduled to be sentenced on March 1, 2019.

This case is the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.

AGENCIES

Oceanside Police Department, Internal Revenue Service