A Detroit gang leader cuts his tether and flees after his former cohorts turn on him in federal court.
Right now the U.S. Marshals Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team is gearing up for an all hands on deck effort to catch one of Detroit’s Most Wanted, Kenneth Smith.
“The task force has assembled and they’re going to turn every stone today, this week, until we find Kenneth Smith,” U.S Marshals Supervisory Deputy Aaron Garcia said.
The U.S Marshals say Smith is the leader of the Traveling Vice Lords, a local branch of the national gang known for their brutal violence.
“Violence and gangs go hand and hand with drugs and weapons,” Garcia said. “Kenneth Smith’s out there somewhere and we don’t know where he’s at, and we’ve come to you guys for help.”
Smith and his fellow gang members were locked up one-by-one after the Marshals say he ordered a hit on two brothers trying to leave the Vice Lords. In May, four people were shot with an AK-47 right here on Detroit’s West Side.
“Kenneth Smith’s the last one out. He goes by Kenny. Six have pled guilty, one’s scheduled to plea,” Garcia said. “He had a tether and sure enough last week when these guys started pleading Ken Smith takes a cowards way out, cuts his tether off and flees.”
He’s wanted in Oakland and Wayne County and by the Feds for domestic violence, drugs, organized crime, multiple counts of assault, and possession of a machine gun.
Believed to be in Detroit with connections to Saginaw and Chicago the Marshals know you can help put this violent man back behind bars.
Kenneth Lamar Smith is 5’7” 175 pounds and considered armed and dangerous. The U.S. Marshals are offering a reward for information leading to Smith’s arrest. You can call them 24/7 at (313) 234-5656.
