In just three years, Brian Kenneth Hicks purchased more than 150 kilograms of cocaine from Mexican drug dealers and made more than $1 million turning it into crack for sale, according to federal court documents.
Hicks, described as a drug kingpin and head of the notorious “Elite Eight” gang, is charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and possession of body armor and weapons by a violent offender, among other charges.
Prosecutors filed a summary of their case against Hicks, Willie “Little Lett” Clark and others Friday to show proof that a drug conspiracy existed and who was involved in the transactions.
Clark, while charged with Hicks and others in the federal case, is now better known for the state murder charge filed against him in the death of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams.
The federal case alleges that Clark was under the sway of Hicks, first as an errand boy and then a trusted manager in a drug-cooking and dealing operation that dominated Denver’s Fuller Park area starting in 1993.
“The ultimate goal was to take control of and dominate the cocaine and crack market for the entire east side of Denver, and the Elite Eight was formed,” prosecutors wrote. “The group shared drugs, stash houses, cooking equipment and a customer base.”
The court documents show that after Hicks made his first $1,000, he was hooked on the lifestyle, even though he felt compelled to do something better with his life.
“Hicks said he feels like God is telling him that he is meant for something other than street hustling,” according to taped telephone calls Hicks made from jail in March 2007. “Hicks added that the money was good, and he had been feeding his family ‘off this s—.’ ”
The government contends that the drug conspiracy began in 1993 when Hicks was 14 or 15 years old and continued through 2007 while Hicks, now 29, was in jail. It was an offshoot of the “Tre Tre Crips” gang, so named for 33rd Avenue in the neighborhood.
Prosecutors say Hicks not only provided for his family, he also provided jobs to up-and-coming gang members who were fresh out of jail without any future prospects.
Clark was recruited by Hicks after he was released from prison in 2006 after serving time for motor-vehicle theft. Hicks taught Clark how to cook cocaine into crack and paid him $1,000 a week, according to the documents.
“As part of his recruitment technique, Hicks sought out younger Tre-Tre members recently released from prison and engendered loyalty by “gifting” them small quantities of crack cocaine and allowing them to use the profit from the drug sales to get back on their feet,” prosecutors wrote. “Hicks also gave them jobs as ‘runners’ for the drug operation, which entailed delivering quantities of crack or cocaine to various customers and returning with the money.”
Since investigators from the Metro Gang Task Force rounded up members of the Elite Eight and the Tre Tre Crips in April 2007, many of Hicks’ associates have pleaded guilty and decided to cooperate with the government.
Nine members of the conspiracy are expected to testify against Hicks at trial, and of those nine, three are members of the Elite Eight.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
