Indian gangs a new terror on Mille Lacs Ojibwe Reservation

Wednesday, November 9, 2011  

Indian gangs are terrorizing members of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians in Minnesota, forcing the tribe to banish some of the worst offenders.

The tribe can exclude a member from the reservation for at least five years. But that didn't stop at least one reputed gang member from returning to commit more crimes.

"It's impossible to just sit around and patrol for people who have been excluded," Michigan State University professor Matthew Fletcher tells The Minneapolis City Pages.

Gangs started showing up on the reservation around 2005. That winter, Cody St. John was beaten and left for dead without his clothes on a -13 degree night.

John suffered permanent brain damage. A tribal jury awarded him $3.4 million in his case against his attacker, Keith Wayne Reynolds, who pleaded guilty for the crime.

During a four-month period, four teenagers were killed on the reservation.

Get the Story:
Mille Lacs Ojibwe fighting violent offenders with banishment (The Minneapolis City Pages 11/9)

Mille Lacs Band court awards $4.3M for gang-related beating (6/16)