Thirteen men who authorities claimed belonged to a gang called the Dayton Mafia face federal drug and gun charges.

Raids on multiple homes in Flint and the Mt. Morris area last month resulted in the seizure of 14 guns, 324 marijuana plants, 704 grams of heroin, 314 grams of crack and 3,400 grams of powder cocaine, according the Genesee County Safe Streets Task Force, a joint effort between the sheriff’s department, Flint police, state police and the FBI.

“These are the cases that make the major impact on violent crime in Flint,” said Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell.

Seven of the men — Lamonte Watson Jr., 34; Isaac D. Meeks, 42; Shawn Smith, 35; Hansel D. Williams, 49; Terrance Alexander, 40; Vourice Meeks, 28; and Duane Williams, 35 — have been arraigned on the charges, which include conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. All seven have pled not guilty and are being held in the Genesee County Jail.

The other six men named in the indictment have not been arraigned yet.

An attorney for Alexander disputed claims about his client belonging to an organized crime group.

“It may catch a headline in a newspaper but it’s not accurate,” said attorney Matthew Norwood, who represents Terrance Alexander, 40 in the case.

Alexander “flatly refutes” the charges, said Norwood.

“He’s a responsible adult who owns his own business, who takes care of his family,” said Norwood. “He’s not a gangbanger, he’s never been associated with gangbangers.”

Attorneys for the other men who have been arraigned either declined comment or could not be reached.

Pickell said the arrests mark the end of a months-long investigation conducted by the Safe Streets Task Force and FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent John Cecil called the Dayton Mafia one of the more prominent gangs in Flint.

“The Dayton Mafia seems to be a little bit older, more streetwise, more discreet in the way they did this,” said Pickell, calling its alleged members “profiteers.”

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