Prosecutors: Ranking Gang Member Gets 50 Years for Robbery at Gunpoint

TYLER — A jury has sentenced 20-year-old Dikembi Spencer of Tyler to 50 years in prison for engaging in organized criminal activity. According to the Smith County district attorney’s office, Spencer and two others arranged to buy marijuana at a Tyler apartment complex in November 2017. Authorities say Spencer and Davonte Black went in and robbed the drug dealer at gunpoint, making off with the marijuana and another gun. Police detectives were able to recover a video posted by Spencer showing him and Black displaying the stolen goods and the guns used in the heist.

Officials say Spencer is a ranking local gang member who had previously violated his juvenile probation and served jail time for evading arrest. Black is already serving prison time. There was no immediate word on the status of the third person, a juvenile who officials say waited outside during the robbery.