1 Blood gang member currently in military, prosecutors reveal

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Federal prosecutors revealed new information Monday about what led the FBI to hone in on some of the 83 gang members indicted last week.

Twenty-two of the suspects arrived at Charlotte's federal courthouse for detention hearings. The courthouse was heavily guarded by Homeland Security during the hearings.

A grand jury indicted 83 people last week for their involvement with the Nine Trey Gangsters sect of the United Blood Nation gang.

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Channel 9 watched last week as dozens of United Blood Nation gang members were brought in after a massive raid along the East Coast.

Some members were wanted on robbery and murder charges, but police said the gang is still recruiting, targeting children as young as middle schoolers.

(Click PLAY to watch the full U.S. Attorney's press conference)

Unlike last week, when the suspects were swooped up and brought straight to the federal courthouse, family members had enough of a heads up Monday to attend the hearings.

There was extra security on hand to keep an eye on the extra crowds. Some relatives yelled “I love you” to suspects from outside the courthouse fence, while others were visibly upset inside the courthouse during the hearings.

Many of the suspected gang members asked a judge to set a bond, arguing they weren't a threat to the community, but the judges only allowed a few suspects out on bond.

Destinee Blakeney, who is pregnant, is one of the suspects released on bond. Felicia Brown came to court to support Blakeney and Brown's son.

"I mean this stuff is just crazy it's ridiculous," Brown said.

Doris Hopper's son, Raheam, will remain detained for now. He is charged in one count of the 69-count indictment for his alleged ties to the gang.

"You grow up in neighborhoods and you know people," Hopper said about her son. "You can't help who you know, and you shouldn't be judged or condemned by the people you know."

(Click PLAY for RAW VIDEO of the gang roundup)

Prosecutors leveled some of the more serious allegations against Johnny Thomas Mitchell. Officials said he is a five-star general in the gang from the Shelby area.

Another suspect, Deshawn Peterkin, admitted he is a "life-long" member, federal prosecutors said.

Federal prosecutors also mentioned that one suspect is currently in the military. However, officials did not identify the individual.

During several hearings, officials mentioned a meeting spot for the gang called "The Mansion."

Several other suspects will be in court Tuesday for detention hearings.

The FBI also announced Monday that three additional United Blood Nation gang members were taken into custody. The agency said they have arrested Quincy Haynes, Jhad Thorbourne and Latif Johnson.

The new arrests mean there are still four suspects on the run.

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