{{short description|American rapper and convicted murderer (born 1982)}} {{distinguish|Rah Digga}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = | image = Ra Diggs.png | caption = Ra Diggs in 2010 | birth_name = Ronald Herron | alias = Ra Diggs
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|03|30}} | module = {{infobox criminal | child = yes <!-- indicate embedded infobox --> | charge = |conviction = *First-degree murder (×3) *Attempted murder (×3) *Conspiracy to murder (×4) *Distribution of narcotics (×2) *Racketeering conspiracy (×1) *Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise (×1) | conviction_penalty = 12 life sentences | conviction_status = Incarcerated | imprisoned = ADX Florence, Colorado, U.S. | apprehended = October 5, 2010 | trial_start = | trial_end = <!-- {{end date|||}} --> }} | genre = {{hlist|Gangsta rap}} | occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|gangster}} | label = {{hlist|VangodENT}} | current_member_of = | past_member_of = Murda Team | years_active = 2007–2010 | birth_place = Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | origin = }}
'''Ronald Herron''' (born March 30, 1982),<ref>Find an inmate: [https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/ RONALD HERRON − Register Number: 78527-053]; Age: 38 (June 12, 2020); Release Date: LIFE. ''Federal Bureau of Prisons''. Retrieved June 12, 2020</ref> known as '''Ra Diggs''', is an American former rapper and convicted murderer who is serving a life sentence at the ADX Florence prison in Colorado.
== Early life == Herron was born in 1982 in Brooklyn, he was raised in the Gowanus Houses by his mother. At the age of 12, he witnessed the shooting death of his childhood friend by a local police officer.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/29/nyregion/police-youths-and-toy-guns-1-hurt-1-dead.html | title=Police, Youths and Toy Guns: 1 Hurt, 1 Dead | work=The New York Times | date=September 29, 1994 | last1=Sexton | first1=Joe }}</ref>
== Music career == Following his release from prison in July 2007, Herron began pursuing music. He collaborated with other artists including Uncle Murda and Waka Flocka Flame,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SP2MeG95-Ko | title=Waka Flocka Flame - Live by the Gun feat. Ra Diggs & Uncle Murder (Link in description | website=YouTube | date=July 10, 2010 }}</ref> forming a group known as the “Murda Team.” The group released songs including “We Run NY” and “Slow Down Remix.”
In March 2010, he started posting music videos to a YouTube channel called "VANGODENT".<ref>{{Cite web|title=VANGODENT - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/VANGODENT/about|access-date=2021-10-02|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> On June 11, 2010, he released a song to the channel called "Eulogy". It has over 1,100,000 views as of March 2025.<ref>{{Citation|title=RA DIGGS "EULOGY" (OFFICIAL VIDEO)| date=June 11, 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS6H61raR8M|language=en|access-date=2021-10-02}}</ref>
===Jim Jones feud=== In 2010, Herron was involved in an altercation with rapper Jim Jones at a music studio where he was recording.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2014/06/11/exclusive-rapper-jim-jones-had-near-death-experience-after-kicking-reputed-drug-kingpin-out-of-studio-witness/ | title=EXCLUSIVE: Rapper Jim Jones had near-death experience after kicking reputed drug kingpin out of studio: Witness | website=New York Daily News | date=June 11, 2014 }}</ref> Witnesses claim that Herron later followed Jones to a nightclub with a hit squad and attempted to kill him, causing Jones and his entourage to flee.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.xxlmag.com/jim-jones-almost-got-shot-while-at-a-strip-club/ | title=Jim Jones Almost Got Shot While at a Strip Club | date=June 12, 2014 }}</ref>
== Herron's crimes == === Early arrests === At the age of 14, Herron was arrested for armed robbery. He served his sentence in Rikers Island, he was released after four years.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/20/nyregion/rapper-denies-murder-but-testifies-about-a-life-studded-with-criminal-acts.html | title=Rapper Denies Murder, but Testifies About a Life Studded with Criminal Acts | work=The New York Times | date=June 20, 2014 | last1=Clifford | first1=Stephanie }}</ref>
In 2001, Herron was charged with first-degree murder and drug trafficking. Herron was acquitted of the murder charge and pled guilty to drug trafficking.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web | url=https://www.theawl.com/2014/06/the-rise-and-fall-of-vincent-winfield/ | title=The Rise and Fall of Vincent Winfield }}</ref> He was sentenced to six years imprisonment which he served in Southport Prison.
Herron was the leader of a Bloods gang set known as the “Murderous Mad Dogs.” His organization controlled the Boerum Hill area, in particular the Gowanus and Wyckoff housing apartments. The gang engaged in extortion, drug trafficking, contract killing and armed robbery.<ref>{{cite news | last = Bark | first = Theo | date = February 14, 2012 | title = Ra Diggs Murder Charge: Three Killings, Faces Death for Bragging | url = https://theboombox.com/ra-diggs-murder-charge/ | work = The Boombox}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | date = May 12, 2014 | title = In Brief: Rap Videos Admissible | url = https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/almID/1202654805274/IN-BRIEF%3A-Rap-Videos-Admissible/?slreturn=20200512062825 | website = Law.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | date = October 9, 2010 | title = Uncle Murda Associate Ra Diggs Arrested For Running Drug Ring, Faces Life In Prison | url = https://www.ballerstatus.com/2010/10/09/uncle-murda-associate-ra-diggs-arrested-for-running-drug-ring-faces-life-in-prison/ | work = Baller Status}}</ref>
=== Murder victims === On June 16, 2001, Herron shot and killed local drug dealer Frederick Brooks. He was arrested and charged in state court, but was acquitted in 2002. It was later alleged that Herron and his associates threatened the witnesses in the case.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/leader-bloods-street-gang-convicted-racketeering-including-three-murders | title=Eastern District of New York | Leader of Bloods Street Gang Convicted of Racketeering, Including Three Murders | United States Department of Justice | date=July 2, 2015 }}</ref>
On May 9, 2008, a man named Richard Russo was murdered in an elevator in the Wyckoff Gardens housing complex. Witnesses described an altercation ensuing before a weapon was produced and Russo was shot dead. Herron was later charged and convicted of his murder.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210909003225/https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-herron-36 casetext.com]</ref>
In 2009, Herron chased down and murdered rival drug dealer Victor Zapata. Herron followed him through the courtyard of the Wyckoff Gardens apartment buildings and killed him.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/27/nyregion/rapper-ra-diggs-convicted-of-murder-racketeering-and-drug-dealing.html | title=Rapper Convicted of Murder, Racketeering and Drug Dealing | work=The New York Times | date=June 26, 2014 | last1=Clifford | first1=Stephanie }}</ref>
== Arrest and Indictment == On October 5, 2010, Herron was arrested outside a nightclub and charged with drug offenses. Following a search of his vehicle, police found a loaded firearm and body armor.<ref name="auto1"/> He was later federally indicted on 21 counts including three murders, drug distribution, and violating the RICO Act. Herron was convicted on June 26, 2014 on all counts. At trial, several of Ra Diggs songs and music videos were used as evidence because they were "literal recountings of his crimes".<ref name=SPIN>{{cite news | last = Reilly | first = Dan | date = June 27, 2014 | title = Rapper Ra Diggs Convicted of Three Murders After His Videos Are Used as Evidence | url = https://www.spin.com/2014/06/ra-diggs-rapper-ronald-herron-murder-conviction/ | work = SPIN}}</ref>
In his own defense prior to his sentencing, Herron addressed the courtroom and stated: <blockquote> “You guys sit here and continue to paint this picture that I’m the devil incarnate, the scourge of righteousness — it’s all crap … Even the most dim prosecutor could have secured a conviction under this atmosphere of guilt they built. They did all but point a big, red arrow of 'guilty' up on that projection screen. You denigrate me like I’m some sort of societal pestilence. What have you contributed to my community?”<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bet.com/article/1xcxds/ra-diggs-given-12-life-sentences-plus-105-years | title=Ra Diggs Given 12 Life Sentences, Plus 105 Years | website=BET }}</ref></blockquote>
Herron later told the judge that he could give him 10 life terms and that he was only going to die once. On April 2, 2015, he was sentenced to 12 life sentences plus 105 years in prison.<ref name= "auto2">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/03/nyregion/ronald-herron-brooklyn-rapper-known-as-ra-diggs-gets-12-life-prison-terms.html|title=Ra Diggs Gets 12 Life Sentences|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 3, 2015|last1=Schweber|first1=Nate}}</ref> He is currently housed at ADX Florence in Colorado.
== Life imprisonment == In early 2015, during a routine search of his jail cell at the MCC New York complex, officers found a collection of razor blades and a mobile phone under Herron’s mattress.<ref name= "auto2"/>
Following his sentencing, Herron was transported to the ADX Florence supermax facility in Colorado. Inmates at the ADX complex are held in isolation for 23 hours per day with minimal human contact.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21043739 | title=Isolating the menace in a sterile 'supermax' | website=NBC News | date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref> In December 2022, he was transferred to the neighbouring prison USP Florence High. As of March 2025, Herron is back in ADX Florence.
On April 8, 2015, Herron sent an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hudson|first=David L. Jr. |title=Court rejects gang leader's claim that his rap videos could not be used as evidence|url=https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/post/201/court-rejects-gang-leader-s-claim-that-his-rap-videos-could-not-be-used-as-evidence|access-date=2021-09-09|website=www.mtsu.edu|date=February 21, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> claiming that his conviction violated his constitutional First Amendment rights. The conviction was upheld on February 14, 2019, with the court saying that his First Amendment challenge was "without merit".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-15 |title=Brooklyn rapper, gang leader Ra Diggs loses appeal in murder, drug case |url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2019/02/15/brooklyn-rapper-gang-leader-ra-diggs-loses-appeal-in-murder-drug-case/ |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=Brooklyn Eagle |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
'''Other sources''' {{refbegin}} *{{cite web|last1=Starbury|first1=Alan|title=Uncle Murda Associate Ra Diggs Arrested For Running Drug Ring, Faces Life In Prison|url=https://www.ballerstatus.com/2010/10/09/uncle-murda-associate-ra-diggs-arrested-for-running-drug-ring-faces-life-in-prison/|website=BallerStatus|date=October 9, 2010}} *{{cite web|last1=Marzulli|first1=John|title=Brooklyn rapper charged with three murders, including one he boasted about on Twitter|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/brooklyn-rapper-charged-murders-including-boasted-twitter-article-1.1021880|website=New York Daily News|date=February 13, 2012}} *{{cite web|last1=Clifford|first1=Stephanie|title=Artist or Gang Leader? Rapper's Trial Begins|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/28/nyregion/rappers-federal-racketeering-trial-begins.html|website=The New York Times|date=May 27, 2014}} *{{cite web |title=YouTube bragging rapper Ra Diggs found guilty of murder |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-28052264 |website=BBC Newsbeat |date=June 27, 2014}} *{{cite web|last1=Schweber|first1=Nate|title=Ronald Herron, Brooklyn Rapper Known as Ra Diggs, Gets 12 Life Prison Terms|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/03/nyregion/ronald-herron-brooklyn-rapper-known-as-ra-diggs-gets-12-life-prison-terms.html|website=The New York Times|date=April 2, 2015}} *{{cite web | first=Polly |last=Mosendz | url=http://www.newsweek.com/fbi-ronald-herron-leader-bloods-gang-sentenced-life-prison-319248 |title=FBI: Bloods Gang Leader Ronald Herron Sentenced to Life |website=Newsweek |date=April 2, 2015}} *{{cite web |first=John | last=Marzulli |title=Brooklyn drug kingpin gets 3 life terms in Colorado's Supermax prison |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/exclusive-brooklyn-killer-3-life-terms-colorado-supermax-article-1.2612353 |date=April 24, 2016 |website=New York Daily News}}
{{refend}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diggs, Ra}} Category:Living people Category:Rappers from Brooklyn Category:21st-century American rappers Category:American people convicted of murder Category:American people acquitted of murder Category:American people convicted of drug offenses Category:21st-century American murderers Category:20th-century American criminals Category:African-American gangsters Category:American crime bosses Category:Inmates of ADX Florence Category:1982 births Category:21st-century prisoners and detainees of the United States federal government