The Darlington County Sheriff's office raided several houses Friday night and arrested ten suspected members of the Red Scorpion Neighborhood Rolling 20 Bloods.
Sheriff Wayne Byrd says they've arrested Malcom Melvin, Timothy Ham, Reginald McClair, Travis Hayes, Joey Gibson, Leron Whitten, Levon Timmons, Michael Wallace, Quentin Gibson and Archie Leach.
Gang investigators say Leach is the ringleader of the gang and he has a very violent, criminal history.
The suspects each face robbery and criminal conspiracy charges.
Byrd says the Red Scorpions are responbile for several armed robberies and shootings in Florence, Darlington, Orangeburg and Calhoun Counties.
Police confiscated the gang's "book of knowledge" as evidence, and investigators say the book contains their rules of order.
Police say one of the rules states that the Red Scorpions are not to committ crimes against each other or African Americans in general.
Officers tell us the book also says if any member violated the rules they would be beaten.
Deputies also seized two cars in connection with the arrests.
According to officers, the Red Scorpions started on the West Coast as an affliation of the Bloods in 1998.
They say the group started in Florence and Darlington Counties in October of 2007.
We've learned federal authorities could take over this investigation.
Sheriff Byrd says the arrests are the result of pro-active law enforcement at its best.
Several agencies assisted in this investigation including the Darlington City Police Department, Florence County Sheriff's Office, Florence City Police Department, US Marshals and the State Law Enforcement Division.
