FBI arrests alleged leader of 'Block Burners' in Louisville

Federal authorities arrested the alleged leader of the “Block Burners” Eastside Indianapolis gang in Louisville, Ky., late Tuesday night.

William Anthony Brown, 27, was taken into custody by FBI agents, according to a tweet from the office of the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.

Brown was wanted on a federal warrant on suspicion of conspiracy to distribute narcotics after local, federal and state authorities conducted a massive sweep last week to dismantle the “Block Burners” gang.

William Edward Dodd, 32, who was wanted by federal authorities on suspicion of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, also was arrested with Brown, according to the tweet from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Police are also still searching for three other gang members wanted in connection with last week’s raid that netted 35 arrests in connection with Eastside gang activity.

Authorities conducted a sweep, called “Operation Smoke Show,” that targeted the "Block Burners," a gang that is suspected of dealing drugs and other illegal activity on the Eastside.

Authorities said when they searched Dodd’s “stash house” in the 2500 block of South Keystone Avenue last week they found $80,000 in cash and multiple packages of cocaine ready for resale. At Dodd's residence, police said they found a loaded firearm and approximately $10,000 in cash.

Police are still seeking Tyree Devonte Gilbert, 20; Moniqque Onya Smith, 22; and Eskivel Reynosa De La Cruz, 28.

De La Cruz is also wanted on suspicion of conspiracy to distribute narcotics.

A federal criminal complaint alleges that Dodd received 5 to 10 kilograms of cocaine from the Dominican Republic on multiple occasions from De La Cruz.

Smith and Gilbert are wanted on local warrants, Smith for conspiracy to deal cocaine and maintaining a nuisance, and Gilbert for possession of a firearm by serious violent felon and criminal recklessness with a firearm.

Officials said the majority of the gang's members were distributing pound-quantities of drugs like cocaine, heroin and marijuana, along with large quantities of prescription pain pills.

Star reporters Jill Disis and Tim Evans contributed to this article.

Call Star reporter Madeline Buckley at (317) 444-6083. Follow her on Twitter:@Mabuckley88.