Directing Activities of Criminal Street Gangs
Chapter 71 of the Texas Penal code defines organized crime offenses.
“Directing Activities of Criminal Street Gangs”, as per § 71.023 of the Texas Penal Code, occurs when a person, as part of the identifiable leadership of a criminal street gang, knowingly finances, directs, or supervises the commission of, or a conspiracy to commit, one or more of the following offenses by members of a criminal street gang:
- a felony offense that is listed in Article 42A.054(a), Code of Criminal Procedure;
- a felony offense for which it is shown that a deadly weapon, as defined by Section 1.07, was used or exhibited during the commission of the offense or during immediate flight from the commission of the offense; or
- an offense that is punishable under Section 481.112(e), 481.112(f), 481.1121(b)(4), 481.115(f), or 481.120(b)(6), Health and Safety Code.
An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life or for any term of not more than 99 years or less than 25 years.
Punishment Range
First Degree Felony
- Imprisonment in the institutional division for life, or
- Imprisonment in the institutional division for not more than 99 years or less than five years with the exception of aggravated sexual assault, which adds a 25-year minimum punishment if the victim is younger than 6, or younger than 14 and the offense contained threats of serious bodily injury or death, or use of a deadly weapon
- In addition to imprisonment, may receive a fine not to exceed $10,000