United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Jacksonville, Fla. – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an Indictment charging 13 defendants—all alleged members and associates of the Slime gang—with crimes including racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and retaliating against a witness. Slime was primarily active in the Northside and Oceanway neighborhoods of the greater Jacksonville, Florida area.

If convicted, some defendants face up to 20 years and others face up to life in prison for the racketeering conspiracy, and up to life imprisonment, for the drug conspiracy and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Finally, some of the defendants face up to life imprisonment or the death penalty for murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder for hire, and/or use of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime resulting in death. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit certain assets, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense. 

According to the indictment, the Slime organization has existed under various names, including Pearl World, BB4L (Block Burners for Life), K4T (Killers for Telly), and finally, Slime World. At all times relevant to the indictment, Slime was led by Brian Gregory Brightman and generated income through drug trafficking and used violence and intimidation to establish the group’s dominance in the greater Jacksonville area, protect its territory, encroach on rivals’ territory and trap houses, and maintain its drug trafficking operation. The violence and intimidation used included assaults, shootings, attempted murders, and murder.

The indictment alleges that, from no later than in or about 2019 and continuing until August 5, 2026, the defendants conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances including marihuana, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine, and maintained multiple trap houses to distribute the same, often arming themselves with firearms to protect their controlled substances and territory.

Additionally, the indictment alleges that in August 2021, Brightman, Raymond Cash, and Devin McFadden solicited the murder of a rival gang member. Later, on October 13, 2022, Brightman solicited a Slime member and a Slime associate to murder a different rival gang member. On November 30, 2022, and continuing through December 1, 2022, Brightman transported approximately 70 pounds of marijuana from California to Florida. On December 19, 2022, Brightman directed an individual to go to one of the trap houses under the ruse that he would be facilitating a drug deal. When the individual arrived at the home with others, Cash and Gary Harris robbed them of marijuana at gunpoint. 

On January 29, 2024, it is alleged that Brightman and another Slime member assaulted a lower-level drug dealer and user to enforce a debt owed to Slime. On a different occasion, Blake Baker entered the home of a drug dealer and Slime associate, threatened her with a firearm, and assaulted her domestic partner to enforce a drug debt owed to Slime. On December 11, 2024, Devonne Rivers and Terrance Williams shot and attempted to kill another individual, in part, to intimidate any rival groups and gangs on behalf of Slime. Further, Andre Drinks solicited a physical attack on an individual that Drinks perceived to be proving evidence against Slime, causing injury to that individual.

Members of Slime are also charged in several substantive counts with committing violence to intimidate rivals and get revenge against opposing groups. It is alleged that beginning on an unknown date no later than on November 27, 2023, and continuing through December 2023, Brightman and Jacob Goodman conspired to commit, and did commit, the murder-for-hire of D.S.S. on November 29, 2023. It is further alleged that Brightman, Rivers, and Tarvares Watson Jr. conspired to commit and did commit the murder of A.B. and T.W. on or about April 7, 2024.

In additional to the individuals named above, also charged in the indictment are Roderick Leon, Rashawn Rankin, and Da’Veon Smith. 

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office, Nassau County Sherriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area is investigating the case with valuable assistance from the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit; Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; United States Marshal Service; United States Postal Inspection Service; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection; Florida National Guard Counter Drug Program; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Florida Highway Patrol; Nassau County Sheriff’s Office; Baker County Sheriff’s Office; St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office; Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office; Clay County Sheriff’s Office; Putnam County Sheriff’s Office; Neptune Beach Police Department; Jacksonville Beach Police Department; and Green Cove Springs Police Department.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.