BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – The Broward Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday announced the arrests of eight suspects, who they say are believed to be members of a “violent, criminal gang.”
According to a BSO news release, the suspects were arrested in a 33-count indictment for various charges, including murder, attempted murder and racketeering.
6 p.m. report:
“I applaud the work of the dedicated detectives, the valuable assistance from the State Attorney’s Office and collaboration with our law enforcement partners to rid Broward County of these heartless, violent criminals whose evil and cruel acts took innocent lives and placed communities in fear,” Sheriff Gregory Tony said in a statement. “Evildoers should be warned -- we will not let up in our relentless effort to keep Broward County safe.”
According to the news release, the interagency operation began “after Sigmund Brown’s fingerprint was recovered from a car connected to a homicide that occurred Jan. 20, 2024 at a Best Buy in Plantation.”
Brown, 27, of Hollywood, is known to BSO’s Gang Investigations Task Force and the SAO as he is a leader of the Dania Hot Boyz gang, also known as Grand Mafia, authorities said.
According to BSO, during the investigation, eight homicides were solved, along with more than a dozen attempted homicide cases throughout the county, and eight people were taken into custody, including other leaders of the gang.
In addition to Brown, who was arrested on Aug. 6, the other suspected gang members who were arrested in the operation were:
- Kevaris Johnson, 23, of West Park, who was arrested on Aug. 6
- Gerard Charles, 30, of Hollywood, who was arrested on Nov. 7
- Vondarious Davis, 29, of Fort Lauderdale, who was arrested on Aug. 9
- Rajah Rolle, 16, of Tamarac, who was arrested on Nov. 5
- Tyriq Jackson, 24, of Coral Springs, who was arrested on Nov. 1
- Jared McCabe, 25, of Fort Lauderdale, who was arrested on Nov. 7
- Trayvon Key, 27, of Dania Beach, who was arrested on June 3
BSO listed the homicide cases as:
9/16/2021 – Wisdom Williams shot and killed; body found in Hallandale Beach
4/9/2023 – Antjuan Dobard shot and killed in Pembroke Park
5/9/2023 – Vernaldo Donner and Terri McKenzie, shot and killed near I-95 in Fort Lauderdale; intended victim not in the car
7/19/2023 – Wayne Smith shot on 7/15/23 in Hallandale Beach; died from injuries 7/19/23
9/13/2023 – Dorothy Smart shot and killed in the driveway of her home in Fort Lauderdale
1/20/2024 – Terrance Farrington Jr. shot and killed at Best Buy in Plantation
1/28/2024 – Johnnie Henderson shot and killed in Miramar
Local 10 News’ Terrell Forney spoke with McKenzie’s mother after the arrests.
Barbara McKenzie’s daughter Terri was just 21 last year when she and her boyfriend, Vernaldo Donner, were killed after bullets riddled their white Mercedes SUV at I-95 and Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.
Neither was the intended target, and cops say 23-year old Kevaris Johnson is the accused trigger man.
“There is a sense of closure,” said McKenzie. “We are very thankful, the family is very thankful, even though we’re traumatized.”
Detectives said the arrest of Brown, along with Charles and Johnson, for Farrington’s murder led investigators to uncover additional homicides linked to the group.
Detectives said Rolle, the only minor among the suspects, was linked to the killing of Henderson, 17, who was shot while waiting at a traffic light in Miramar. Investigators believe Johnson was also involved in Henderson’s death.
“I was glad that they were found and her case didn’t turn out to be a cold case,” said McKenzie.
All eight suspects were scheduled for arraignment, but only five appeared before the judge. Two hearings were rescheduled for Friday, while one suspect refused to appear.
Each defendant who attended entered a not-guilty plea. Authorities reported that the gang is also suspected of involvement in more than a dozen attempted murders.
“Our community is a safer place today because of this joint investigation with our law enforcement partners,” Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor said in a statement. “Eight homicides and more than a dozen attempted murders – including the slayings of innocent civilians – are solved and illegal firearms have been seized from convicted criminals. We will continue to seek justice for victims, fight gang violence, and make our community safer.”