After a week-long trial, a federal jury in Detroit has convicted Anthony Zigler, a member of the Almighty Vice Lords Nation (AVLN), of committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering (VCAR). The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck.
James Deir, the Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), joined Beck in making the announcement.
The trial evidence demonstrated that the AVLN, notorious for its violent and criminal activities nationwide, included Zigler as part of its Conservative Vice Lord branch. The jury found that Zigler carried out a prison stabbing to further his status within the gang. Zigler was accused of stabbing his victim fifteen times, using a weapon made in prison, causing severe injuries. The conviction could result in Zigler facing up to 20 years in federal prison.
Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck stated, "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."
ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir remarked, "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."
This is the third trial in about 18 months in the Eastern District of Michigan involving the AVLN. 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 similar offenses with a fourth defendant convicted of drug-related crimes in a federal court in Detroit.
