Two men from the Quad Cities were sentenced to prison for their parts in a racketeering conspiracy that involved a years-long pattern of violence, including murder, attempted murder, and drug trafficking.
The racketeering plot implicated Fifth Street gang members, as revealed by public court documents and evidence presented during trials and sentencings. The gang is also known as the “Arsenal Courts Posse,” “Zone Fifth,” “Fifth Street Mafia,” “Rock Town Money Getters (RTMG),” and “Money Team.” The Fifth Street gang was a criminal operation that committed multiple acts of violence, including murder and attempted murder, in the Davenport and Rock Island areas. It was linked to dozens of shooting investigations and at least seven homicides over the period of two decades.
On October 9, Rasheem Damonte Bogan, 34, was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for racketeering conspiracy and being a felon in possession of ammunition, followed by three years of supervised release. On June 1, 2020, Bogan and seven other defendants went to Necker’s Jewelers to commit a burglary. While at the store, they came upon a man they mistook for a rival gang member. Bogan and others fired 33 shots from four rifles, severely wounding the victim.
On November 6, Kylea Dapri Cartwright, Jr., 29, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for racketeering conspiracy and being a felon in possession of ammunition, followed by three years of supervised release. Cartwright was also required to pay $29,732.23 in reparation. After a six-day jury trial, Cartwright was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy and felony possession of ammunition. Cartwright fatally shot a man on W. Third Street in Davenport on July 5, 2020, according to evidence presented at trial. Cartwright used the same pistol that another Fifth Street Gang member had shot in the Necker’s Jewelers shooting a month before.
Fourteen defendants, including Bogan and Cartwright, were convicted of federal offenses for their roles in the Fifth Street Gang’s illicit activities between April 2006 and February 2024.
The 12 co-defendants’ sentences were as follows:
“This was a thorough and relentless investigation,” said Davenport Police Chief Jeffery Bladel. “Our officers stayed committed, and prosecutors were steadfast in seeking justice. Gun violence will never be tolerated in our community. These dangerous individuals showed no regard for human life and are now being held accountable. I’m incredibly thankful for our investigators, officers, and partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office whose dedication has made our city safer. The message is clear: if you commit violent acts, you will be held accountable.”
“This case represents years of tireless investigative work and close collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies to dismantle one of the most violent criminal organizations operating in the Quad Cities,” said United States Attorney David C. Waterman for the Southern District of Iowa. “The sentences imposed send an unequivocal message: those who bring violence, guns, and drugs into our communities will be held fully accountable under federal law. And let me be clear—anyone who threatens or attempts to harm our law enforcement partners will face the full force of the federal government. Our office will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the men and women who safeguard our communities every day, working together to restore safety, stability, and peace to our neighborhoods.”
David C. Waterman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, announced the ruling. The case was investigated by the Davenport and Rock Island Police Departments, together with the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Drug Enforcement Administration.
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