Dozens of gang members under arrest in Polk County, deputies hunting for gang leader

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County deputies are on the hunt for an Orlando man they say is the leader of a violent gang.

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On Wednesday, the sheriff announced more than three dozen accused gang members are under arrest.

It comes after a yearlong gang task force uncovered a string of violent crimes and accusations of racketeering.

“They’re so ruthless, they’re so dangerous,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.

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There are 41 members of the gang called Sex, Money, Murder who are now facing more than 120 felony charges in Central Florida, including racketeering and a shocking list of violent crimes to carry out an elaborate level of illegal drug deals. Many of the alleged activities are shown openly on social media.

“They pistol-whipped an 8-year-old child … and placed the gun to a three-month-old’s head,” Judd said.

Investigators said its Orlando leader, 36-year-old Hernando Thompson, has an active warrant along with dozens of others from Florida to North Carolina.

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So far, the Joint Gang Task Force, area agencies and Florida Department of Law Enforcement has seized guns, cash and a laundry list of illegal drugs with a street value of $1.5 million.

The criminal gang is believed to be the local arm of a nationwide gang.

The national leader, who is believed to have started in the 1990s is serving a life sentence in prison.

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Video: Sheriff: 2 hurt after shootout between motorcycle gangs on I-4 Deputies in Polk County said two people are in the hospital after an overnight shootout on Interstate 4. (WFTV)

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