by: Sam Charles
Posted:
Updated:
This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.
CHICAGO —Federal prosecutors in Chicago secured guilty verdicts Tuesday against two men tied to a slew of violence on the city’s West Side over the course of two decades.
Jurors at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse returned guilty verdicts against Donald Lee and Torance Benson, two higher-ups in the Wicked Town faction of the Traveling Vice Lords gang.
Lee was found guilty of committing three murders and supplying the weapons used in three more killings, while Benson was found guilty of one murder and three other nonfatal shootings, according to federal prosecutors.
Lee and Benson were two of 13 people initially charged in the conspiracy, though their 11 co-defendants all pleaded guilty before trial. The indictment, handed up in late 2021, accused Wicked Town of committing 19 murders and 19 more attempted murders between 2000 and 2020.
Speaking to reporters at the courthouse Tuesday, John Lausch, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said:
“It takes a long time to put a case together like this, but when you’re able to learn about multiple acts of violence that are committed by a group — and it’s done either to protect and promote particular criminal activity they have or retaliation for other crimes that are committed — it allows us to see the full picture and it allows us to reach a greater breadth of people who are ultimately responsible.”
A sentencing date for Lee and Benson has not yet been scheduled, though each faces a mandatory life sentence.
![Federal jury convicts leader of Wicked Town Vice Lords, tied to 6 West Side murders (3) Federal jury convicts leader of Wicked Town Vice Lords, tied to 6 West Side murders (3)](https://i0.wp.com/wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/bestreviews-1.png)
Amazon just dropped thousands of new summer fashions…
Walmart quietly drops huge savings on Keurig, Ninja,…
Best Father’s Day gifts for new dads
View All BestReviews
Close
Subscribe Now
trending
TikTok of Virginia child stuck in basket goes viral
26 percent of Gen Z applicants bringing parent to…
‘Cybersigilism’ is the latest (divisive) tattoo trend
Credit card delinquencies are rising. Here’s what…
Are Americans tired of tipping?
Demand for food delivery has skyrocketed. So have…
Potential largest-ever, rare fish washes ashore
How Chicago helped launch Pat Sajak’s career
Is Vanna White leaving ‘Wheel’ when Pat Sajak goes?
‘Full House’ home listed for sale for $6.5 million
View All Trending
Sports
A look at the atmosphere of the White Sox clubhouse
Boston tallies 3 runs late, beat White Sox in extras
Defending Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah…
Cubs avoid sweep with 4-2 win over Reds
Alcaraz wins French Open for 3rd Grand Slam title
Dornoch wins 156th running of the Belmont Stakes
View All Sports
Latest Videos
Long-term closure expected after ‘catastrophic failure’…
Biden honors US war dead with a cemetery visit ending…
Centrist Benny Gantz is quitting Israel’s war Cabinet,…
Gaza’s Health Ministry says 274 Palestinians were…
Chicagoland cyclist Philip “Bo” Hammer biking coast-to-coast…
Spectacular, sunny Sunday on tap for Chicagoland,…
Weekend Break: Bank of America Chicago 13.1 race…
Over 30 people shot, 5 fatally, across Chicago in…
Street closures in and around Grant Park begin Monday…
Weekend Break: Bank of America Chicago 13.1 race…
Weekend Break: Bank of America Chicago 13.1 race…
Chet Walker, NBA Hall of Famer and member of Chicago…
Chicagoland cyclist Philip “Bo” Hammer biking coast-to-coast…
Sunday Brunch: The Italian Homemade Company on West…
5 hospitalized, 2 sheriff’s officers reportedly in…
Spectacular, sunny Sunday on tap for Chicagoland;…
Several Pride Parades will be held Sunday around…
Saturday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, scattered showers…
Thousands gather for Puerto Rican People’s Day Parade…
Thousands gather for Puerto Rican People’s Day Parade…
More Videos
Newsfeed Now
Back-to-back hurricanes more likely to happen: Study
Al-Qaida chief’s ‘pattern of life’ was key to death
Hospital bills $847 ‘facility fee’ for Zoom call
What’s next in ‘unprecedented’ case of truck driver…
Could new DNA tech crack the JonBenet Ramsey case?
Newsfeed Now: President Trump campaigns in NC; Presidential…
Newsfeed Now: Trump campaigns in PA; Changes to Thursday’s…
Alabama man meets long-lost brother through DNA test
Friends call 911, save life of 69-year-old California…
Trick-or-treating banned: Los Angeles announces strict…
State police returning to Portland following deadly…
U.S. Coast Guard honors 9-year-old for saving father’s…
Nev Schulman of MTV’s ‘Catfish’ leaves generous,…
“I hope one of y’all pick me,” 9-year-old boy desperately…
Which face masks are most, least effective at stopping…
Man who shot Denver officer and escaped prison in…
WATCH: Celebration of life for Rep. John Lewis continues…
Oklahoma woman shot multiple times after being dared…
Lawmakers face pressure to change Mississippi state…
Experts hail swift moves in wake of Atlanta police…
‘I’d fight tooth and nail for him’: Florida man fights…
Video shows Chicago police ‘lounging’ in congressman’s…
TV helicopter crew spots, rescues missing swimmer…
Arkansas man delivers donuts to officers during protests
COVID-19 has potential to spread during protests,…
COVID-19 has potential to spread during protests,…
WATCH: ‘Agitator’ apprehended by protesters, handed…
View All Newsfeed Now