Houston rapper OMB Bloodbath, whose legal name is Alexandra Nicks, was convicted alongside alleged 103 street gang leader Shaquille Richards after a federal jury found the pair guilty of murder in aid of racketeering and using a firearm to commit murder during a racketeering offense stemming from a 2017 retaliatory drive-by shooting in Houston’s Third Ward.
The verdict followed a federal trial in which prosecutors alleged Nicks and Richards directed the 103 street gang during a violent feud with the rival Young Scott Block, or YSB, gang. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the government argued the defendants ordered lower-ranking gang members to carry out a retaliatory attack after a series of shootings and homicides escalated tensions between the rival organizations.
Trial evidence showed that on Oct. 16, 2017, four alleged 103 gang members entered YSB territory armed with multiple firearms, including weapons equipped with 50-round and 100-round drum magazines. Prosecutors said the gunmen opened fire after spotting an alleged rival gang member on a street corner.
Houston Rapper OMB Bloodbath Convicted In Federal Murder Retrial
The intended target survived the shooting. A 53-year-old bystander standing outside a nearby residence, however, was struck by gunfire and later died from his injuries. Federal prosecutors said the victim had no affiliation with either gang.
The government further alleged the suspects crashed their vehicle while fleeing the scene. Three participants allegedly carjacked a woman whose infant was inside the vehicle, while a fourth fled on foot before authorities arrested him nearby after discarding a firearm and clothing.
To establish the racketeering charges, prosecutors relied on jail telephone calls, social media evidence and witness testimony. The government argued the evidence demonstrated that Nicks and Richards ordered the retaliatory shooting.
“This gang war plagued Houston’s Third Ward community for years,” Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said in a statement.
U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz said the convictions reflect the Justice Department’s commitment to prosecuting violent gang activity.
“If you wage war on our streets, terrorize our communities, and put innocent Texans in the crosshairs, my office will come for you,” Reitz said.
Four co-defendants—Deandre Watson, Mertroy Harris, Marcus Christopher and Marquis Erskin—previously pleaded guilty and are scheduled for sentencing Sept. 2, each facing a potential life sentence. Nicks and Richards will be sentenced at a later date by U.S. District Judge George Hanks.
Leave a Reply