Lauderhill Police. {Aiden Palmer}
Ten suspected leaders of a notorious branch of the Sex, Money, Murder Bloods gang active in Broward County have been arrested, including an accused Lauderhill gangster, authorities said Friday.
Ridge Wietsma, 33, of Lauderhill, was arrested in April along with nine other senior SMM members following a three-year investigation led by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Gang Investigations Task Force, according to BSO.
The ten suspects were booked into jail in Highlands County, Florida, another focal point of the investigation, and charged with crimes that include conspiracy to commit homicide, directing activities of a criminal gang, and money laundering, court records show.
BSO on Friday said the statewide busts had toppled the leadership of the gang, which is part of a network of Sex, Money, Murder Bloods sets across the east coast. SMM sets are known for carrying out killings of their rivals, trafficking drugs and guns, and making money from various other rackets.
The BSO task force detectives leading the case said their investigation took a turn when they learned that two “command-level” members of the gang lived in Broward County. They later identified the gang’s statewide leadership and financial accounts tied to the organization, authorities said.
Detectives said they also uncovered numerous crimes committed by the SMM gang, including illegal trafficking of firearms, trafficking of drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl, fraud, and conspiracy to commit homicide. The crimes took place across the state of Florida, detectives said.
Investigators said they also discovered a “kill list” of the gang members’ intended victims and let the targets know before the crimes happened, ultimately saving their lives.
Arrest warrants in the case were filed in March, and the statewide sweep operation was carried out last month, authorities said.
According to detectives, a series of residential search warrants were simultaneously executed in Lauderhill, Pembroke Pines, and Hastings, Florida. The searches uncovered more guns, drug trafficking, and gang paraphernalia, authorities said.
According to BSO, other Broward residents identified by detectives as alleged leaders of the gang were also arrested in the sweep: Quam’ani Floyd, 30, of Dania Beach and Hank Edwards, 30, of Lauderdale Lakes.
All 10 suspects are being prosecuted in Highlands County, and BSO’s investigation into the Sex, Money, Murder, Blood gang is ongoing, according to the agency.
Anyone with information about the gang or crimes committed by its members is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS or submit a tip online at browardcrimestoppers.org.
Got News? Send it to Tamarac Talk. Don’t Miss Reading NW Broward County’s #1 News Sites: Margate Talk, Coral Springs Talk, Coconut Creek Talk, and Parkland Talk.
Author Profile
Latest entries
Crime & SafetyMay 22, 2025BSO Increases Patrols Around Tamarac Jewish Institutions Following Deadly Antisemitic Shooting in Washington D.C.
NewsMay 16, 2025Detectives Seek Clues in 2 Heists at North Lauderdale Publix
NewsMay 14, 2025Former Chief of BSO Tamarac District Fired After Triple Murder
NewsMay 13, 2025Tamarac Commissioners to Throw Support Behind $2,500 Grants for Senior Condo Owners
