Gang Member Convicted After Invading Parkview High Party

LILBURN, GA — A Gwinnett County man has been convicted on gang charges after disrupting a party intended for Parkview High School graduates.

Dalston Simpson was convicted on Friday of criminal gang activity and criminal damage to property in the second degree.

Superior Court Judge Timothy Hamil sentenced him to 15 years, with five to serve in prison. Simpson was acquitted on charges of robbery, aggravated assault and simple battery.

According to evidence, about 30-40 people were at a May 26, 2014, party in Lilburn being held for recent graduates of Parkview.

Simpson, whom prosecutors describe as a leader of the 1800 Migos gang, and several other gang members showed up uninvited to the party at about 1 a.m. and were asked to leave.

Prosecutors say 1800 Migos is part of the larger Black Migo street gang, which is affiliated with the Bloods.

Simpson and other gang members -- including co-defendants Cain Cloud, Damarcus Ingram, David Williams, Ezekiel Holmes and Treshon Maxwell -- started an altercation, chanting "1800 Migo" and saying they were "about to air it out," slang for shooting up the party.

A witness testified that Simpson was one of the instigators.

At one point, a gang member pulled an AK-47 assault rifle and pointed it at a party-goer. Members of the gang then physically assaulted at least two people at the party.

Simpson and the others chased people who were outside at the party back into the house. Simpson and Cloud then smashed windows of the house before leaving.

As they left, one of them fired four shots from a handgun into the air.

Part of the evidence at trial was an extensive amount of social media Simpson and others had posted over the years. It included numerous photos of them showing the Black Migos gang sign, tattoos, gang colors and statements identifying themselves as BMG, 1800 Migo and Bloods.

At trial, Simpson denied being a gang member, claiming instead to be a fan of the rap group, Migos, which hails from Gwinnett County.

He said a large "MOB" tattoo on his forearm did not mean "Member of Blood," as police claimed, but instead meant "Man of Business."

He also testified that a tattoo of the letter "B" on his forehead does not stand for "Bloods" but was instead meant to show he is a Boston Red Sox fan.

When asked on cross-examination to name his favorite Red Sox player, he couldn't name one.

Simpson’s five co-defendants had all previously pled guilty.

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