By Michael Shen
Herald Intern
A long-term investigation by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Gang Investigations Task Force has led to the arrests of 10 suspected senior members of the Sex, Money, Murder Blood Gang, one of which was a DeBary resident, according to a press release.
Detectives from the task force, with assistance from other law enforcement officers, spent the last three years investigating the gang and found that two “command-level” members resided within Broward County.
This led to Gang Task Force uncovering the gang’s statewide leadership, financial accounts and numerous crimes committed by the gang throughout Florida such as firearm and narcotics trafficking, fraud and conspiracy to commit homicide.
Detectives also discovered a “kill list” and were able to notify the intended victims before any crime could occur.
The arrest warrants were filed in March with the operation taking place in April.
The arrested suspects are:
- Damien Thompson, 31, born 10/14/1993, male from Pembroke Pines, arrested in Broward County
- Ridge Wietsma, 33, born 02/29/1992, male from Lauderhill, arrested in Broward County
- Quam’ani Floyd, 30, born 10/02/1994, male from Dania Beach, arrested in Broward County
- Hank Edwards, 30, born 08/28/1994, male from Lauderdale Lakes, charged while in custody in Miami-Dade County
- Gene Rowe Jr, 27, born 06/11/1997, male from Gainesville, arrested in Alachua County
- Bruce Garniss, 21, born 03/08/2004, male from Gainesville, charged while in custody in Alachua County
- Deaunte Boyd, 31, born 12/29/1993, male from Winter Haven, charged while in custody in Polk County
- Richard Rivera, 28, born 12/18/1996, male from Winter Haven, arrested in Polk County
- Darling Siplin III, 26, born 01/17/1999, male from DeBary, charged while in custody in Seminole County
- Andrew Mariano, 23, born 09/07/2007, male from Hastings, arrested in St. John’s County The investigation into the gang is ongoing. Those with information can contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.
