DAVENPORT, IOWA (August 13, 2020) – On Wednesday, August 5, 2020, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging 11 members and known associates of the Davenport-based street gang Low Riders with a host of federal crimes.

The indictment indicates that the Low Riders are a criminal racketeering enterprise. According to the indictment, members and associates of the Low Riders illegally carry firearms, deal drugs, and engage in shootings of rival gang members.

On Monday, August 10, and Tuesday, August 11, the Davenport Police Department conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of seven members and known associates of the Low Riders following the federal grand jury indictment. The individuals arrested have been charged in federal and state court for a variety of serious crimes including aid of racketeering, drug trafficking, and firearms charges. These charges carry maximum penalties of between 10 years and life imprisonment.

The operation was the result of a multi-year investigation into the Low Riders criminal street gang by the Davenport Police Department and the US Attorney’s Office. To read the U.S. Attorney's Office release, click here. 

During the operation, the Davenport Police Department, with the help of other local law enforcement agencies, executed 10 search warrants which resulted in the seizure of firearms, money, drugs, and drug paraphernalia.

“We are very proud of our strong partnerships with our County Attorney’s Office, United States Attorney’s Office, Federal, State and all of our area Law Enforcement agencies; through these partnerships we can collectively coordinate our investigative efforts in identifying the most violent and active offenders within our community and the Quad City area and work together on solutions that bring these violent offenders to justice”, said Davenport Police Chief Paul Sikorski.

Addressing gun violence remains a priority of the Davenport Police Department. Since January, Davenport has seen a 100% increase in nonfatal shootings over the same period in 2019. Most incidents of gun violence have been target specific and not random acts of violence, and are often tied to gang and drug activity. The Davenport Police Department is committed to ensuring that perpetrators of these crimes face justice for their actions.

“The partnership between the Davenport Police Department, US Attorney’s Office and the Scott County Attorney’s office make these prosecutions possible. We are thankful that this partnership has led to the charges brought forth today, and I am confident that there will be more in the future as we work together to address violent crime in Davenport,” said Sikorski.