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Indian gang members convicted

Photo: Stockbyte, Photos.com

Mar 19, 2013 at 6:23 pm

MINNEAPOLIS,Minn. (AP) Federal prosecutors in Minnesota are claiming victory in the trial of three alleged members of a violent American Indian gang.

Three alleged members of the Native Mob were convicted Tuesday in what authorities called one of the largest gang cases to come out of Indian Country.

Jurors delivered a mixed verdict. An alleged Native Mob leader was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy but acquitted on an attempted murder charge. Two alleged gang "soldiers" were both convicted of attempted murder in aid of racketeering but one of them was cleared of racketeering.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Winter says authorities have "conservative confidence" that they put a serious dent in the gang but that their investigation is ongoing.

Defense attorneys say the mixed verdicts are inconsistent and they plan to appeal.