Atlanta native Young Nudy is the latest rapper to see his affiliates caught in a RICO case. Atlanta News First released a report on Thursday detailing the indictment of “associates of the PDE criminal street gang” in an insurance fraud scheme.
The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office announced the arrests after a 30-month-long effort that spanned multiple jurisdictions and involved several different agencies. These arrests include the DA’s Office Gang Unit, the Atlanta Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Georgia Department of Labor.
Prosecutors allege that the individuals arrested orchestrated the theft of over 100 Fulton County residents’ personal information to obtain funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Although the total amount that was allegedly stolen has not been announced, the DA’s office did state that one of the accused individuals stole $70,000.
8 members of Young Nudy’s group ‘PDE’ were hit with RICO charges pic.twitter.com/yBaVflOQ8g
— No Jumper (@nojumper) August 10, 2023
Starting in early 2021, an unnamed homicide investigation prompted the White Collar Crime Unit to begin going through “cell phone evidence, social media evidence, bank records and other documents,” said Deputy District Attorney Will Wooten.
“Whether they are shooting or stealing, criminal street gangs will be prosecuted by my office for the crimes they commit in Fulton County using every tool available under the law. If gangs choose to turn to white-collar crimes to fund their illegal activities, we will be waiting with indictments in hand,” stated Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis, vowing to go after gangs involved in white-collar crime with the same vigor as those accused of more violent offenses.
The eight individuals named in the indictment are Shadarian Mitchell, 34, Caren Mitchell, 54, Dontavious Cheeks, 33, Kenneth Long, 35, Brittany Parks, 28, Kareem Durham, 27, Julian Rabun, 39, and Zemekia Davis, 34. All of them reside in the greater Atlanta area.
The collective was charged with one count of violating the Georgia RICO (Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations) Act, nine counts of violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, one count of conspiracy to defraud the state, and 134 counts of identity fraud.
There’s “nothing obvious in this indictment about a connection between PDE the street gang and anyone signed to the PDE label,” according to reporter George Chidi, who specified that none of the eight are rappers.
Young Nudy, born Quantavious Thomas, has yet to comment on the arrest. His hit song “Peaches & Eggplants,” featuring his cousin 21 Savage, peaked at 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the lead single from the February mixtape “Gumbo.”
