A brutal prison stabbing tied to one of America’s most violent street gangs has led to a central federal conviction. Anthony Zigler, a known member of the Almighty Vice Lords Nation (AVLN), has been found guilty of a vicious attack inside a Michigan prison — part of what authorities are calling a widespread criminal operation rooted in fear, violence, and organized hierarchy.
Zigler, also known by his gang aliases “Footz” and “Vampire,” was convicted of violent crime in aid of racketeering after stabbing a fellow inmate 15 times in a calculated prison assault. The act was allegedly carried out to cement his standing in the Conservative Vice Lords, a branch of the AVLN.
According to federal prosecutors, Zigler carried out the stabbing at a Michigan Department of Corrections facility in 2017. The assault was anything but random — it was an execution of a gang order. Zigler, speaking on a recorded phone call with another gang member, said he planned to kill the inmate identified only as “F.W.” Days later, he did just that — attacking with a homemade prison knife, repeatedly plunging it into the inmate’s head, neck, and torso.
The stabbing punctured the victim’s lungs, but the Department of Justice has not confirmed whether the inmate survived. The act, officials said, was carried out to “maintain or increase his position” within the gang.
Zigler’s conviction is part of a sweeping federal case that goes beyond just one man or one prison yard. In 2021, the Department of Justice indicted 40 members of the Almighty Vice Lords Nation in one of the largest gang-related takedowns in Michigan history.
The charges in the indictment are expansive: racketeering, drug trafficking, murder conspiracy, firearms offenses, and violations under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. These federal charges target the gang’s widespread operations in Detroit and beyond, painting a picture of a criminal network that enforces power through terror and violence, both inside and outside prison walls.
“This conviction is a win for justice and safety in our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Julie A. Beck. “It reflects the tireless efforts of our law enforcement partners and our office to dismantle violent gangs like the AVLN. With each conviction, we weaken their grip on our neighborhoods.”
The Almighty Vice Lords Nation is no ordinary gang. It’s a sprawling syndicate with roots dating back to 1960s Chicago, now operating through multiple branches nationwide. Among those factions are the Conservative Vice Lords (CVL), Traveling Vice Lords, Insane Vice Lords, Mafia Insane Vice Lords, and Cicero Insane Vice Lords.
According to prosecutors, AVLN members operate under a military-style hierarchy, complete with titles such as King, Prince, and Universal Elite. Orders flow from the top down — and they’re not optional.
“Members must follow orders from higher-ranked AVLN leaders,” federal court documents reveal. “This includes orders to commit violent acts like murder.”
AVLN literature reportedly demands lifelong allegiance. Disobeying a command or falsely claiming a higher rank can result in punishment, including death.
A central symbol of AVLN is the five-pointed star, signifying its allegiance to the “People Nation,” an alliance of street gangs that includes the Bloods, Latin Kings, and Latin Counts.
Zigler’s conviction marks the third major victory for federal prosecutors stemming from the 40-person AVLN indictment. Authorities say the case is steadily dismantling a violent infrastructure that has long haunted Detroit and other cities.
James Deir, Special Agent in Charge at the Detroit Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), celebrated the verdict.
“This case proves that the Almighty Vice Lord Nation has been crippled — both locally and nationally,” Deir said. “Violent acts in furtherance of a criminal organization will not be tolerated in Detroit or our prisons. If you think you’re climbing the ranks, think again — you’re going right back to prison for even longer.”
The Detroit Police Department also played a crucial role in the investigation, collaborating closely with the ATF and federal prosecutors to construct a strong case against Zigler and his co-defendants.
In 2024, three other AVLN figures—Terry Douglas, Schuyler Belew, and Devun Baskerville—were each sentenced to between 60 and 70 years in prison for their roles in racketeering and witness intimidation. These were not minor players; federal agents labeled them “the worst of the worst.”
In 2023, another trio of high-ranking gang leaders met a similar fate: Kevin Fordham and Eddie Reid of Detroit, and Martin Murff of Chicago, were all convicted of RICO conspiracy. However, Kenneth Johnson, another defendant in that trial, was acquitted.
Currently, 33 other AVLN defendants from the 2021 indictment are awaiting trial. Their fates may be decided in courtrooms over the next year, as federal authorities aim to eradicate what they call a “domestic criminal empire.”
The AVLN’s grip extends beyond street corners and urban turf wars — it seeps into prison culture too. Gang orders are carried out behind bars with terrifying precision. Zigler’s case is a haunting example.
Federal prosecutors say his attack was greenlit by a superior and carefully premeditated. The gang’s philosophy doesn’t just encourage violence — it demands it.
“You will carry it out immediately,” states the AVLN’s internal literature, referring to violent orders. To defy such an order is to risk being “violated” — a euphemism for beatings or death.
Zigler now faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the stabbing, with his sentencing date yet to be scheduled. As he awaits the final chapter of his case, federal authorities continue their broader war on gang violence in Michigan and across the country.
With over three dozen defendants still facing charges and federal prosecutors committed to pursuing each case to its conclusion, the AVLN may be facing its most significant threat yet: accountability.
As one federal official put it, “You want to serve the gang for life? Then prepare to spend that life behind bars.”
