Author: Benny Greenspan | Wild About Trial
On November 7th, 21 members of the Kiccdoe gang, an Arlington-based criminal street gang, were taken into custody by the FBI. That same day, 17 of the 21 began initial appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Texas
These arrests came after over a year-long investigation from the FBI that began in April 2024, when a Kiccdoe gang member was shot and killed on Arlington High School’s campus. That particular murder sparked a series of retaliation shootings between Kiccdoe and several other Arlington gangs. Court records state that Kiccdoe members have committed a pattern of heinous crimes, such as murder, drive-by shootings, robberies, assaults, and other firearm offenses, along with the trafficking of narcotics such as fentanyl and marijuana across North Texas.
Kiccdoe members were identified and investigated by the FBI through different code words such as “6” or “600,” associated with the gang’s origins on the 600 block of East Arkansas Lane on the east side of Arlington. Other code words used to identify members were “kiccdoe” and “KDN,” standing for Kiccdoe Nation. Different gang members would post on social media using these words in their caption, or even have them inscribed in their clothing.
The gang consistently took to social media to post gang-related activities and crimes, posting photos of themselves with marijuana or illegal firearms. Gang members even wrote songs describing their criminal activity, uploaded them to streaming services, and posted them on social media with captions elaborating on the crimes.
In their complaint, it was alleged that “stripes,” or violent acts, were required to join the Kiccdoe gang. The specific crimes identified in the complaint include, but are not limited to: – Murder
– Six attempted murders
– Nine robberies
– A number of assaults with deadly or dangerous weapons
– Ongoing sales of fentanyl and marijuana
– Continuous threats of violence
The Kiccdoe members charged in the complaint all are between 18-22 years old. However, their collective young age did not seem to faze FBI Dallas Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Wright, who said at a news briefing, “Do not let the ages distract from the havoc that they’ve inflicted upon our community… These gang members allegedly use violence and intimidation to protect our territory and profits. They instilled fear in their victims and took revenge on their rivals.”
According to 18 U.S. Code § 1963, which states the punishment for racketeering, the central charge in this case, those convicted can face up to a life in prison, since one of the racketeering activities consists of first degree murder.
Agent Wright and others made it known that the investigation will not stop here, as there are still many Kiccdoe members terrorizing the Arlington streets. Hopefully, these arrests make all of North Texas a bit safer while the Kiccoe investigation continues.
