Minneapolis Bloods Member Sentenced Life Federal RICO Case

Desean James Solomon, a 34-year-old Minneapolis Bloods gang member, was sentenced to life in federal prison plus 20 years after being convicted of racketeering influenced corrupt organization (RICO) charges and two counts of using firearms in furtherance of murder. The convictions stem from two separate incidents in 2020 and 2022 involving shootings that resulted in the deaths of rival gang members at a nightclub and a bar, respectively. Solomon's sentencing marks the first in a series of federal RICO trials targeting major Minneapolis street gangs amid a crackdown on violent crime that escalated after the pandemic lockdowns and George Floyd riots. Federal prosecutors highlighted Solomon's long history of violent crime and his role in expanding the Bloods' criminal influence through fear and intimidation. The FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office emphasized that this sentence sends a strong message to gang members in Minneapolis, warning them to abandon violence before federal authorities intervene. Defense attorneys sought leniency citing Solomon's background, but the judge cited his lack of remorse and violent past in imposing the sentence.