Alleged gang member pleads not guilty
Markeis Richardson was on 10 Most Wanted list
TEXARKANA, Texas — An alleged member of the Loyalty Cash Business gang pleaded not guilty Monday during an arraignment at the Bi-state Justice Building.
Markeis Jamal Richardson, 36, is charged with three counts of engaging in organized criminal activity (money laundering) according to court records. He remains in the Bowie County Correctional
Center. Richardson appeared Monday before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell with his retained attorney, Darren Anderson. His next court date is May 16, according to court records. Richardson was arrested in March after being placed on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 10 Most Wanted list. He is the last LCB member arrested on the engaging in organized criminal activity charge.
The investigation into LCB has been going on since 2017 and has involved the Texarkana Texas Police Department, DPS and the Nash, Texas, Police Department.
Investigators claim Hope and other gang members orchestrated the murder of Jermaine “Bubba” Aldridge in the Texarkana Chili’s restaurant parking lot in December 2020 while Hope was in jail in another county. Aldridge had stolen $100,000 of Hope’s drug money, according to court records.
As TTPD detectives investigated, they reportedly discovered Aldridge’s killing was a murder-for-hire plot involving the gang. Detectives also determined that the murder was actually part of a much larger series of criminal acts by LCB/I-30 Cartel members.
Investigators believe the LCB/I-30 Cartel comprises members of local gangs working together to further their drug business interests. The gang formed businesses including I-30 Cartel entertainment and trucking companies to make it appear the money made from selling drugs came from legitimate means, according to court records.