Accused Charlotte gang members had military training

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Federal authorities knew them by names like 'Billy Solo' or 'Billy Kilo Montana.’ Their military supervisors knew them as Spc. Latif Johnson and Pvt. Rashad King.

A Channel 9 review of military and court records found at least three suspects indicted as members of the United Blood Nation gang in May went through military training. It's something the Federal Bureau of Investigation has deemed a dangerous combination.

"Gang members who learn advanced weaponry and combat techniques in the military are at risk of employing these skills on the street when they return to their communities," a 2011 National Gang threat assessment found.

One of the suspects, Latif Johnson, was in Qatar when he learned of the charges against him. He was arrested at New York's JFK Airport upon his return to the U.S., according to comments his defense attorney made in court.

Why these accused gang members become involved with the military is not always clear.

A YouTube video shows Johnson at a speaking engagement in 2014 while wearing his uniform. He discussed a rough upbringing before having a desire to join the military.

"I'm serving my country, and eventually, me and my wife have a dream to build our own house from the ground up," Johnson says in the video.

Johnson left for Qatar in January and later deployed to Afghanistan. He is a parachute specialist mostly involved with the moving of supplies.

Federal prosecutors said that while deployed, Johnson also discussed moving drugs. He posted on social media using gang terms and hand signals while wearing his U.S. Army uniform, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Warren.

Channel 9 traveled to the address were Johnson is being held under home detention. Family members at the home declined to comment.

Hunter Glass, a retired Fayetteville Police Detective, ran into gang members in the military frequently due to the proximity to Fort Bragg.

"We see it in all ranks of the military, we see it in all avenues of the military," Glass said. "We have for many years."

According to Glass, the gang problem in the military is a reflection of the gang problem in the U.S.

"I have always believed it affected one percent of the military but that's a lot of people when you really look and it could be more because there are more gang members in the United States now," Glass said.

Channel 9 reached out to several military officials to request an interview but none made themselves available.

A U.S. Army spokesperson sent a lengthy statement which reads in part: "Army pre-accession screening has a focus on identifying and screening out applicants with a history of gang or extremist activity.  This screening includes identification checks and verification, criminal background checks, a sex offender query, fingerprints sent to the FBI, local police checks and checks of local law court documents."

Glass said it is a tough issue to tackle.

"It is a large machine, you have a lot of parts," Glass said. "Gangs are going to persist. They are not going anywhere."

(WEB EXTRA: Hunter Glass, a retired Fayetteville Police Detective, ran into gang members in the military frequently)

Full U.S. Army Statement:

"Participation in criminal gangs and activities by Army personnel is inconsistent with the responsibilities of military service. Soldiers are prohibited from active participation in gangs or their activities."

"Being a member of a gang or other group that is associated with criminal activity or extremist views or actions is inconsistent with Army values and applicants who are members are denied entry based on questionable moral character.  Army pre-accession screening has a focus on identifying and screening out applicants with a history of gang or extremist activity.  This screening includes identification checks and verification, criminal background checks, a sex offender query, fingerprints sent to the FBI, local police checks and checks of local law court documents.  The procedures also include sending the applicant's personal data to the Social Security Administration for confirmation and for noncitizens having their information sent to the Department of Homeland Security for verification.  These checks include the FBI's Violent Gang and Terrorist Organization File which provides the Army identifying information about violent criminal gang and terrorist organization members."

"Army accessioning agencies complete, for each applicant, tattoo screening for tattoos or brands that are extremist, indecent, sexist, or racist.  They also require applicants to complete numerous questionnaires and be subject to interviews with Army leaders in the accession process, credit checks, and also be subject to a Personnel Security Investigation (Tier 3 PSI).  The PSI examines an applicant's background by checking dozens of law enforcement, credit, immigration, terrorism, sex offender, Secret Service, and investigative data bases to determine if applicants have a history of conduct that shows that they have questionable moral character or that they hold views that are inconsistent with Army values.   Many applicants also are subject to an even more in depth Single Scope Background Investigation which includes additional screening including interviews by security screeners with persons who know the applicant including neighbors, coworkers or former supervisors or teachers."

"Once a soldier enters the Army, in the military system, there is no single criminal offense that readily identifies a misconduct as a 'hate crime.' Military criminal charges generally address the underlying criminal activity (e.g. assault, destruction of property, etc.) without regard to the 'hate crime' aggravation, until the sentencing phase of a criminal proceeding. These 'Hate crime' elements,  are evidence that a criminal accused intentionally selected any victim or any property as the object of the offense because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation of any person and are usually addressed as aggravating factors in sentencing as opposed to the initial charging decision as justification for more severe punishment. Although, the Army tracks prosecutions and administrative actions via underlying charges and misconduct, 'hate crime' aggravation factors are not tracked independently."

Cox Media Group