75 Ted Turner Dr. SW In addition to the Times Square robbery, which was recorded by Tekashi on a cellphone, Martin was also present for a shooting inside the Barclays Center during a confrontation between Tekashis crew and a rival entourage. Nine Trey, the citywide branch under the United Blood Nation banner, quickly grew in scale and notoriety by selling street drugs like heroin and crack cocaine, initially mostly around Harlem. 21, of Atlanta; Earl Smiley, 27, of Greeneville, South Carolina; Linnie Andrews, 34, of Atlanta; Adrian Ansley, 27, of Bethlehem, Georgia; Fred Arceneaux, 58, of Bonaire, Georgia; Erick Balcazar, 34, of Marietta; Sheena Brown, 32, of Marietta; Tremaine Garrison, aka Paperwork, 35, of Marietta; Cedrick Hill, aka Ced, 25, of Marietta; Monique Preston, 30, of Marietta; Demario Ridley, aka Lil Yo, 23, of Atlanta and Travis Todd aka T-Raw, 25, of Atlanta. The indictment also alleges a drug trafficking conspiracy that includes trafficking in methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription medications and heroin, against the following alleged Nine Trey Gangster members: Evans; Caple; Sartor; Clark; Riley, Tashied Reid; Jackson; Asberry; Rosser; Bowles-Griffin; Williams; Marcus Russell, a/k/a Double M, 26, of Jessup, GA; Calmetrius Dawkins, 22, of Atlanta, GA; Jmon Hawkins, 21, of Atlanta, GA; and Earl Smiley, 27, of Greeneville, SC, and the following alleged gang associates: Linnie Andrews, 34, of Atlanta, GA; Adrian Ansley, 27, of Bethlehem, GA; Fred Arceneaux, 58, of Bonaire, GA; Erick Balcazar, 34, of Marietta, GA; Sheena Brown, 32, of Marietta, GA; Tremaine Garrison, a/k/a Paperwork, 35, of Marietta, GA; Cedrick Hill, a/k/a Ced, 25, of Marietta, GA; Monique Preston, 30, of Marietta, GA; Demario Ridley, a/k/a Lil Yo, 23, of Atlanta, GA; and Travis Todd a/k/a T-Raw, 25, of Atlanta, GA. I am so sorry our prison system was not able to protect you from retribution.. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Tekashi69 (R) flashing a Nine Trey Bloods gang sign with Aljermiah "Nuke" Mack (L) (Court Exhibit) . A total of 30 gang members and associates were indicted. Atlanta, GA 30303-3309. Federal agents have arrested 17 members and associates of the Nine Trey Gangster Bloods criminal street gang on charges of RICO conspiracy and related charges stemming from an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia on Oct. 12, which was unsealed yesterday. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. A total of 30 gang members and associates were indicted. You should turn Blood., And I did. And theyd say, Yo, you really get it poppin. FBI Nine Trey Gang Leader, Enforcer, and Cocaine Supplier Each reads an official statement from the US Department of Justice. Last week Tekashis former manager, Kifano (Shotti) Jordan, pleaded guilty for his role in the gang. 6ix9ine pledged to cooperate with prosecutors against others. His new release date was set for August 2, 2020, although reports surfaced saying he may be released as early as July 31, 2020. Atlanta City Councilman Antonio Brown has been indicted on multiple fraud charges in connection with Browns attempts to defraud several financial institutions by taking out loans and making credit card Anne Gronek-Gibbs, a former sales director for the Coca-Cola Company, has been sentenced for embezzling over $750,000 from the company. Michael Jackson, aka MJ, held the rank of Third Floor in the gangs hierarchy. [8] On November 22, 2018, a seventh man, Roland "Ro Murda" Martin, was arrested and charged with crimes related to the case. Established in the 70s, the Bloods Gang, also known as Bloods, are a street gang based in California, USA. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Further, the indictment alleges several acts of violence undertaken by gang members. We will continue to aggressively prosecute and eradicate these parasites from our communities. The following NTG gang members, all of Georgia, pleaded guilty to count 1 of the second superseding indictment charging them and four others with RICO conspiracy: Clark, 40, of Marietta; Jackson, 27, of Chester; Caple, 56, of Glennville; and Riley, 37, Sartor, 37, and Asberry, 32, all of Atlanta, pleaded guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge for their involvement in planning, facilitating and executing multiple acts of violence and participating in the gangs drug trafficking activities, including the distribution of methamphetamine, marijuana, and Xanax. Investigative assistance was also proved by the GA State Patrol, Covington PD, Clayton County District Attorneys Office and Gwinnett County District Attorneys Office. [19], On April 2, 2019, Jesnel "Ish" Butler pleaded guilty to one firearms charge involving the April 2018 robbery of a backpack belonging to "Scum Lord D!zzy", the owner of 6ix9ine's label ScumGang. By Bernadette Giacomazzo Written on Jul 22, 2020. Federal prosecutors say 41-year-old Antonio Simmons led the "Nine Trey Gangsters Bloods Gang . His orders to inmates belonging to the Bloods gang were to attack members of a "renegade gang called Pretty Tony," causing several extended prison lockdowns and multiple injuries. Nuke was sentenced on February 24, 2020, by the Attorney for the Southern District of New York to 204 months or 17 years in prison for the distribution of narcotics (heroin and fentanyl). Suite 600 Have a question about Government Services? This case is being investigated by the FBI Atlanta's Safe Streets Gang Task Force, composed of members of the FBI, Atlanta Police Department (PD), Alpharetta PD, Clayton County PD, Cobb County PD, DeKalb PD, GA Dept. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia, Former U.S. Who Is The Leader Of The Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods? New Details On The When some of the Nine Trey Gangsta members were released from prison in 1994, they headed for Harlem, where they took over abandoned buildings at 75 and 79 West 119th Street near Lenox Avenue. Two Brooklyn Bloods gang members found guilty in trial highlighted by The rapper, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, . New Details About The Violent Gang Associated With Tekashi 6ix9ine, Perhaps aware of the ramifications of high-level snitching,The New York Daily Newsreports that Tekashi 6ix9ine didn't testify against the leader of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. The slashing was allegedly carried-out by defendants Janee Yates and William Sykes. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. On April 2, 2013, an indictment was filed in Richmond against eight Nine Trey Gangster gang members and associates charging them with Conspiracy to Distribute 280 grams or more of Crack Cocaine. Removing those most responsible for the violence and drug dealing perpetrated by members and associates of violent street gangs like the Nine Trey Gangsters makes our neighborhoods and communities safer., Members of Nine Trey Gangsters have plagued our streets with violence and drug trafficking for far too long, said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. Tekashi69 has accused Hustlers star Cardi B, Do not sell or share my personal information. According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges, and other information presented in court: Beginning by at least 2013, the defendants named in the RICO conspiracy charge committed murder, attempted murder, conspired to commit murder, robbery, extortion, firearm crimes, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice and other crimes in furtherance of the Nine Trey Gangsters. The rapper said that the video shoot for his hit song, Gummo, in August 2017 introduced him to Nine Trey Bloods members and he was shown stills from the clip and asked by prosecutors to identify those who appeared on camera. 2023byTango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved. You dont leave.. The indictment alleges that Nine Trey Gangster members committed one murder, attempted to commit two other murders, and conspired to commit multiple additional murders. On or about April 1, 2010, according to the Indictment, Snow directed Nine Trey Gangsters to give a female victim a buck-fifty, consisting of slashing the face with a knife from mouth to ear with the aim of requiring 150 stiches to close the wound, because the woman had stolen proceeds of the gangs drug sales. The FBI continues to provide significant investigative resources directed toward the dismantling of these types of organized and violent criminal enterprises that do so much harm to our communities and the joint law enforcement operation clearly illustrates this. This case was investigated by the FBIs Washington Field Office and the Fairfax County Police Department, with assistance from the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force, Hampton Police Department, Fauquier County Sheriffs Office, Manassas City Police Department, and the United States Marshal Service. A Nine Trey Bloods member stabbed nine times behind bars for renouncing the gang was sentenced to five and a half years Thursday by a judge who said he was "so sorry" for the prison system's. "One of these cruel and worthless gangsters, Nathaniel Mitchell, murdered a woman who just got off from her job in a coffee shop, while he was in competition with other gang members to kill the most people during the 2015 Christmas holiday season because she was walking on the wrong side of the street, according to prosecutors," reported The Chesapeake Daily, while adding that Murdock and one other co-defendant in the Federal murder trial also participated in this ritual. Tekashi69, whose birth name is Daniel Hernandez, testified that hed been cooperating with the feds since the day following his arrest in November 2018 according to TMZ. According to the indictment, the Nine Trey Gangsters are a Bloods street gang set of the United Blood Nation that was founded in New York City in the early 1970's. Thaddaeus Snow and Curtis Martino led two "line-ups" of the Nine Trey Gangsters which operated as a criminal enterprise in Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Rebecca A. Staton of the Criminal Divisions O. and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia. 30 Members and Associates of the "Nine Trey Gangster Blood" Gang ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Sartor, Caple and Jackson were in Georgia Department of Corrections custody when they participated in the conspiracy. The indictment also alleges that the Nine Trey Gangsters dealt in counterfeit United States currency and used counterfeit currency to finance wholesale drug purchases. Postal Inspection Service. Investigative assistance was also proved by the Georgia State Patrol, Covington PD, Clayton County District Attorneys Office and Gwinnett County District Attorneys Office. Thanks to the hard work of federal and local law enforcement officials, these individuals will now face prosecution for their alleged crimes., The federal grand jury indictment and the resulting arrests sweeps made by the FBI and its many law enforcement partners stem from an intensive and exhausting FBI led Safe Streets Gang Task Force effort to remove these violent gang members, collectively known as Nine Trey Gangsters, from our streets, said Special Agent in Charge LeValley. While the gang offered members a sense of belonging and the opportunity to make money through illicit drug sales, it was those same members who were most often the targets of violence from the gang based solely on the whims of the gangs leaders., Members of Nine Trey Gangsters have plagued our streets with violence and drug trafficking for far too long, said Special Agent in Charge Chris Hacker of the FBIs Atlanta Field Office. [14] Kooda B was indicted for attempting to shoot American rapper Chief Keef in June 2018. He suffered two collapsed lungs, a lacerated liver and a wound to his wrist. Warning: The following video contains swearing and reference to violence. 9 Trey member stabbed behind bars for renouncing gang sentenced to 5 1/ Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBIs Washington Field Office; and Col. Edwin C. Roessler, Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police made the announcement following the unsealing of the indictment. Three Salisbury men charged Monday with attempted murder in connection with an attack last week were members of the Nine Trey Gangsters, a Bloods gang affiliate, according to police. He has connections to Mel Murda and Ro Murda, who were also sentenced. A pair of Nine Trey Bloods gangsters were found guilty Thursday of drug dealing and other mayhem around the city thanks in large part to the testimony of their former friend and fellow Blood,. Five additional people were charged between November 2018 and January 2019. Tekashi 6ix9ine Made Mark On Nine Trey Gangster Bloods' NYC History Antawn Minor, a/k/a Noid, 33, of Manassas, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. UPDATE 9/19, 6:45 p.m. The trial of the Nine Trey Gangsters was a criminal case against eleven[a] alleged members and associates of the street gang Nine Trey Gangsters. Martins criminal record goes back to 1998. A lock ( Tekashi was arrested last November along with 11 other Nine Trey Bloods members and pleaded guilty in February to nine federal charges, including firearms offenses, racketeering, and drug counts. Justin Finley, a/k/a J Mo, 24, of Manassas, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. When the Brooklyn rapper refused, the feds arrested him and nine other alleged gangsters, including Jones for a wild summer of mayhem that included drug dealing, robberies and shootings. Prison staff intervened and quickly transferred 6ix9ine to a different facility to eliminate any future gang threats. Did OJ Simpson's Son Jason Kill Nicole Brown & Ron Goldman? Because I wouldnt want a young person, a young girl, to think its okay to join it., Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies aged 61 after brain aneurysm, Peter Andre sets strict rules for Princess after 'signing deal with fashion retailer', Jake Gyllenhaal flaunts rock-hard abs as he slaps former MMA fighter for Road House remake. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Some of the crimes the criminal organization's members were charged with include murder, robbery . I didn't pay attention," he told the court of Cardi B, according to Page Six. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the governments burden to prove the defendants guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. Raekwon Williams, aka B-Ray,20, of Atlanta. A lock ( Two members of 6ix9ine's entourage were charged with gang assault. He was responsible for planning wars or conflicts with rival gangs and providing weapons to other NTG members. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The indictment includes charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering, violence in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, and multiple counts related to the possession and use of firearms. Under terms of a plea deal, prosecutors wont seek a sentence greater than 14 years. He nearly died en route to NYU Langone Hospital because no oxygen was in the ambulance, Martins attorney Maxwell Bryer said. Have a question about Government Services? 11 Strict Rules That Elon Musk Makes His Girlfriends & Wives Follow, Justin Bieber Suspected As The Father Of Kourtney Kardashian's Son Reign (Instead Of Scott Disick), Why Kate Moss Was 'Scared' & 'Couldn't Get Out Of Bed For Weeks' After Working With Mark Wahlberg. Arresting, prosecuting, and dismantling vicious street gangs remains a top priority of my office and our law enforcement partners. Aljermiah Mack, 9 Trey gang member brought down by Tekashi69, sentenced A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. This came after he was convicted in his three-week trial. Have a question about Government Services? Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. After the shooting, Kooda B allegedly met with 6ix9ine and Shotti, settling for a payment of $10,000 for the attack. [25] He disclosed the gang's inner structure and activities[26] and later mentioned fellow rappers Jim Jones and Cardi B as members of various gangs. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty. Maheia and Mitchell are charged with maintaining a drug premises that the gang used as a base to conduct their illegal activities. Lionel Ritchie, a/k/a Boogie, 29, of Remington, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. See additional information. (So they're a subset of a subset, in case anyone is concerned about gang hierarchy.). Shortly after the feds . Cardi B Denied Nine Trey Gang Affiliation After Tekashi - Insider A Nine Trey Bloods member stabbed nine times behind bars for renouncing the gang was sentenced to five and a half years Thursday by a judge who said he was so sorry for the prison systems failure. (Jerritt Clark/Getty Images). which made Nine Trey members famous and brought in additional revenue. According to the indictment, beginning at least in 2013, the defendants named in the RICO conspiracy charge committed murder, attempted murder, conspired to commit murder, robbery, extortion, firearm crimes, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice and other crimes in furtherance of the Nine Trey Gangsters. Tekashi 6ix9ine Federal Indictment Adds One More Alleged Gang Member", "Tekashi 6ix9ine 'Dummy Boy' Album Takes Billboard 200 No. 6ix9ine ended up avoiding a potential minimum sentence of 47 years. Here's all you need to know about the organisation. Rapper Tekashi69, real name Daniel Hernandez and also known as 6ix9ine, Tekashi 6ix9ine, Tekashi 69, leaves after his arraignment on assault charges in County Criminal Court #1 at the Harris County Courthouse on Aug. 22, 2018, in Houston, Tex. I used to pop off with my homies. [28], On December 18, 6ix9ine was sentenced to 2 years in prison minus the 13 months already served, and 5 years of supervised liberty. The FBI continues to provide significant investigative resources directed toward the dismantling of these types of organized and violent criminal enterprises that do so much harm to our communities and the joint law enforcement operation clearly illustrates this.. He has also claimed that Trippie Redd was a gang member, but from a rival Bloods sect different to Nine Trey. Martin was also caught on recorded phone calls discussing how he could help negotiate a settlement in a dispute over drug debts. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Rebecca A. Staton of the Criminal Divisions Organized Crime and Gang Section and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia. The men were indicted on charges related to racketeering, weapon possession, and conspiracy to commit murder. Each defendant will be sentenced in the coming months by U.S. District Court Judge Amy Totenberg. Lock [21] On April 19, 2019, Bat pleaded guilty, becoming the sixth of the 11 defendants that have entered a guilty plea in the case. While the gang offered members a sense of belonging and the opportunity to make money through illicit drug sales, it was those same members who were most often the targets of violence from the gang based solely on the whims of the gangs leaders., The Department will continue to bring to justice the leaders and most violent members of dangerous criminal enterprises like the Nine Trey Gangsters, said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. The nation founded eight original Blood sets, one of which was the Nine Trey Gangstas. A lock ( Mel Matrix attends "Inside The Life & Mind Of Jim Jones" at the 37 Arts Theatre on March 24, 2009 in New York City. Northern District of Georgia Lock I publicly resigned from Nine Trey and nearly paid my life for it, Martin said before being sentenced. While you may not see violence on your neighborhood street, gang members attempt to rule through violence and intimidation, a dangerous mix for impressionable youth within our region. At the time, 6ix9ine reported the incident to police in July 2018, claiming that he had been pistol-whipped and forced in a car, but soon became uncooperative during the initial investigation. Sometimes you gotta do certain things to get higher, to get higher and higher. In those roles they were responsible for overseeing all of the members below them and reporting up to the gangs national leadership. We appreciate the support and assistance of our law enforcement partners on every level, in our efforts to see that justice is being served on those who pose a threat to the safety of the public and the safe operations of our facilities., These Bloods members terrorized communities by committing murders and robberies with no regard for human life, said Assistant Director Calvin Shivers of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. Roland Ro Murda Martin was sentenced to 5 1/2 years forr a Times Square robbery of a rival of rapper Tekashi69, along with other gang related incidents. 59 bounty hunter bloods - attitudesinreverse.org Bloods Gang Leader Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Murder According to court documents, the NTG is a national gang that started in the prisons of New York as a subset of the United Bloods Nation and has since spread throughout the East Coast and Southeast. The song "Billy" was partially admitted as evidence, where 6ix9ine testified that the chorus "Whole squad full of fuckin' killers, Im a killer too" did not represent crimes committed by the. Tyrone Clark, aka Tight Eye; Joseph Riley, III, aka Joe Blow; Gary Sartor aka G-Stacks; and Patrick Caple, aka Zoe, all held the rank of Fifth Floor in the gangs hierarchy, one of the highest ranks an individual can hold within a line of the gang. Trial of the Nine Trey Gangsters - Wikipedia On December 18, 2019, 6ix9ine was sentenced to two years in prison, pay a $35,000 fine, serve five years of supervised release upon him being released to the public, and complete 1,000 hours of community service. In the role of Second Floor, Asberry was responsible for collecting dues form the gangs members and overseeing the gangs meetings or nines.. 6ix9ine's manager Shotti later turned himself in on November 7, 2018, in relation to the fight and was also charged with gang assault. Six gang members of Atlanta's Nine Trey Gangster Bloods plead guilty to A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Metro.co.uk have reached out to reps for Jim Jones and Trippie Redd for comment. Shockingly, the Nine Trey Gangsters in this case appear willing to kill someone or to commit violence over the smallest perceived slight, said U.S. Attorney Byung J. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. 75 Ted Turner Dr. SW A locked padlock For further information please contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. Jones once rapped under the moniker Mel Matrix and was a member of the Jim Jones-led group Byrd Gang, according to Complex. The striking feature is the absence of any authority figure getting in the middle of things, the judge said, describing surveillance footage that is under seal. On Thursday, April 2, 2020, 6ix9ine's lawyer, Dawn Florio, confirmed withXXLmagazine that the court decided to allow the rapper to be released from prison and into home confinement. Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Byung J. Official websites use .gov [13], On January 22, 2019, three other members of the Nine Trey Gangsters were charged as part of the investigation: Kintea "Kooda B" McKenzie, Denard "Drama" Butler, and Anthony "Harv" Ellison. According to the indictment, the Nine Trey Gangsters are a Bloods street gang set of the United Blood Nation that was founded in New York City in the early 1970s. Reps for Cardi told Metro.co.uk the claims made against her are not true. He also tried to influence the testimony of another witness for the government, as well. [3] As part of the plea agreement, 6ix9ine will not be fully prosecuted for any of his nine charges as long as he fully cooperates in testifying against others and commits no further crimes. Polite Jr. of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. Tekashi69 testifies against accused 9 Trey Bloods, says the gang gave The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the governments burden to prove the defendants guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. Shockingly, the Nine Trey Gangsters in this case appear willing to kill someone or to commit violence over the smallest perceived slight. Further, the Indictment alleges a drug trafficking conspiracy that includes trafficking in methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription medications and heroin, against the following alleged Nine Trey Gangster members and associates: Mitchell; Caple; Sartor; Clark; Riley, Tashied Reid; Jackson; Asberry; Rosser; Bowles-Griffin; Williams; Marcus Russell aka Double M, 26, of Jessup, Georgia; Calmetrius Dawkins, 22, of Atlanta; Jmon Hawkins. Stephon Greene a/k/a Blitz, 21, of Manassas, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. [14] Kooda B was indicted for attempting to shoot American rapper Chief Keef in June 2018. Tekashi 6ix9ine Testifies at Trial That Jim Jones Is a Nine Trey We thank the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia for their partnership in combatting criminal gang violence with us in Fairfax County and nationally. The NTG is a criminal organization whose members and associates engage in acts of crime and violence including murder, assault, robbery, firearms possession, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, drug trafficking and extortion among other criminal activity. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Kifano "Shotti" Jordan, a high-ranking Blood who worked as Tekashi's manager, often. Tyrone Clark, 40, of Marietta, Georgia, Joseph Riley, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, Gary Sartor, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, Patrick Caple, 56, of Glennville, Georgia, Michael Jackson, 27, of Chester, Georgia, and Brandon Asberry, 32, of Atlanta, Georgia have pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Second Superseding Indictment, charging them and four others with RICO Conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Assistant United States Attorney Adam B. Schwartz is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. Kooda B carried out the attack outside the W Hotel in Manhattan, though no one was injured. [27], On October 3, defendants Anthony "Harv" Ellison and Aljermiah "Nuke" Mack were found guilty on kidnapping and racketeering charges, and currently face up to life in prison. James Watson, a/k/a Black Kat, 34, of Gainesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Northern District of Georgia and Special Agent in Charge David J. LeValley of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.