Transnational Gangs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2008
Contact: Michelle Gregory (916) 869-0413

SAN DIEGO–California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown, Jr. today announced the arrests of three key gang members from the V-Boys and Tiny Oriental Crip gangs, two violent Southeast Asian street gangs “terrorizing California’s cities and towns.”

“We can never let up in our relentless campaign to crack down on the street gangs that are terrorizing California’s cities and towns,” said Attorney General Brown. “With the takedown of these key members of the V-Boys and Tiny Oriental Crip gangs, we’ve made significant progress in our work to make our streets safer for everyone.”

Starting at 7:00 a.m. yesterday morning, California Department of Justice Gang Suppression and Enforcement Team (GSET) agents joined other state and local law enforcement agencies in serving search warrants in two counties and arresting three leaders of the “V-Boys” and “Tiny Oriental Crip” street gangs. Both gangs have a long history of violence in San Diego County, but several of the gang leaders have relocated and now live in the Temecula Valley area of Riverside County.

The investigation started in November 2006, when GSET agents learned that the San Diego-based street gangs were active in the southwest portion of Riverside County. Prior to yesterday’s takedown, police have already arrested 27 gang members and their associates for murder, robbery, burglary, identity theft and other crimes.

The California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the San Diego Police Department’s Street Gang Unit and Mid-City Division and the Murrieta Temecula Regional Gang Task Force, served 7 search warrants on the Southeast Asian street gangs. Agents made 3 arrests and seized weapons, including rifles, a sawed-off shotgun, semi-automatic handguns, and a cache of ammunition. Agents also seized a Tech-9 machine pistol with the serial number filed off and night-vision equipment. Agents plan to seek additional arrest warrants for several suspects who were not found during the operation.

The gang demonstrated its potential for violence during a surveillance operation in November 2007. While agents were conducting surveillance on a suspect, Tri Minh Vo, the suspect and his companion, Cao Lam, entered a home in City Heights, a community in San Diego. They shot six people in the home, killing one of them. When the surveillance team and members of the San Diego Police Department’s Gang Suppression Team confronted the suspects, Cao Lam fired at the officers and struck a DOJ agent. Tri Minh Vo was taken into custody at the scene. Cao Lam fled on foot while continuing to fire at the responding officers. During the pursuit, Cao Lam was shot by officers and died of his wounds. The wounded DOJ agent has since recovered from his gunshot wound.

The California Department of Justice GSET program assists local law enforcement with severe gang problems that bleed into neighboring jurisdictions. State agents have recently shut down a Nortenos street gang, a violent Cambodian street gang in Stockton, and a Sureño gang in Atwater. Attorney General Brown’s special agents have also participated in recent crime crackdowns in East Palo Alto, Compton and Oakland.

Contact: Gareth Lacy, California Department of Justice, (916) 324-5500 or Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Bill Braudberger, (323) 267-4813

COMPTON--Further escalating the state’s crackdown on violent gang activity, California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department today announced that 24 Mob Piru gang members were arrested this morning in the City of Compton.

The arrests mark the conclusion of a major gang investigation, Operation Killen Court, launched by the California Attorney General and the Los Angeles County Sheriff after Kyutza Herrera, an innocent bystander, was shot and killed during a drive-by shooting involving rival gang members. Kyutza’s suspected killers and associates, Maruice Bennett, 19, Alex Graves, 23, Robert Maxwell, 19, and a fourth suspect who is a juvenile, were arrested during the course of the investigation into the Bloods-affiliated Mob Piru gang.

“The California Department of Justice launched an investigation into the Mob Pirus after four gang members gunned down an innocent woman,” Attorney General Brown told a news conference at the Compton Youth Athletic League. “State agents joined with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to crack down on this dangerous street gang that has terrorized Compton with constant violence and gang rivalry. We are proud to announce that sheriff’s deputies apprehended the killers and the state’s investigation led to dozens of additional gang arrests.”

The attorney general’s office launched its investigation after suspected Mob Piru gang members shot and killed Kyutza Herrera who was a parked in front of Ace Liquor at 12211 Long Beach Boulevard in Lynwood. Herrera, who was not affiliated in any way with either gang, was shot in her car when the suspects opened fire on rival gang members.

The attorney general’s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement special agents joined the case to investigate Mob Piru gang members suspected to be connected to this shooting and other violent activity. During the investigation, state agents stopped an attempted murder outside of a nightclub and derailed a plan to rob a local post office by a gang member who was also a mail carrier. The gang was recently preparing to import at least 20 firearms from Georgia to sell to other gang members.

One of the gang members, Alex Graves, 23, a United States Post Office mail carrier, was arrested in connection with the drive-by shooting of Kyutza Herrera. Warren Phillipus, 28, also a mail carrier, was wanted in connection with the robbery of the Rancho Park Post Office and was caught by state agents as he was preparing to rob the Rimpau Post Office, both located in South Los Angeles. Phillipus has been charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon, and conspiracy to traffic marijuana.

“These gang members had regular day jobs but their gang affiliation was so strong that they continued to roam the streets, terrorizing the community,” Attorney General Brown said. “It is shocking that gang identity is so powerful that even good paying jobs are not enough to turn these suspects from their criminal activity,” Brown added.

Today’s gang crackdown, Operation Killen Court, is the culmination of a six-month investigation into the Mob Piru gang, an organization that killed, robbed and assaulted people in the City of Compton. Piru gangs first established themselves in Compton in the early 1970s to fight rival Crip gangs. The gang members named themselves after Piru Street, in Compton and called themselves “Bloods.” The Mob Piru gang, which gained national recognition in the 1990s along with the rise of gangster rap, has approximately 200 members and has connections to Oregon and New York.

During today’s crackdown, special agents identified 49 targets and made 24 arrests for offenses including murder, conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, marijuana trafficking, parole violations, and weapons violations. The Multi-Agency Response Team for Drug Endangered Children participated in today’s operation and were responsible for rescuing three children from felony child endangerment at two residences, one of which had a shotgun accessible to a child. Two of the children are 4-years-old, one is 10-months-old, and one is 1 and ½ years-old.

At approximately 6 a.m. today nearly 450 state, local and federal law enforcement personnel executed 33 search and arrest warrants and conducted 20 probation and parole searches in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. Although agents seized small quantities of marijuana and “rock” cocaine, the gang’s foothold involved rival gang violence and subsequently, law enforcement seized 7 handguns, 4 rifles, and 1 sawed-off shotgun.

The California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement led today’s operation in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force, known as LAIMPACT, which includes Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Los Angeles County Probation, California Highway Patrol, DEA, US Customs, Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office and Police Departments in Alhambra, Baldwin Park, Culver City, Downey, El Segundo, Gardena, Glendora, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, La Verne, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Pomona, Redondo Beach, San Gabriel, Santa Monica, Torrance, Vernon, West Covina and Whitter, also participated in today’s operation.

According to the most recent statistics, there are more than 1,000 gangs operating in Los Angeles County. Between 2003 and 2007, there were 7,482 gang-related crimes in Compton including murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, arson and motor vehicles thefts. In 2007, the city had 37 homicides of which 18, nearly 49 percent, were gang-related. Approximately 20 percent of all homicides in California are gang-related. Between January and April of this year, Compton has had a total of 13 homicides, 14 forcible rapes, 175 robberies and 326 assaults.

The California Department of Justice assists local law enforcement when gang problems have become so severe that the crime is bleeding into neighboring jurisdictions. State agents recently shut down a Norteño street gang and a violent Cambodian street gang in Stockton, a Sureño gang in Atwater and the Varrio Central Poros, a brutal criminal street gang that had terrorized the City of Porterville. State special agents have also participated in recent crime crackdowns in Oakland and East Palo Alto.

For an information wanted bulletin detailing the facts of the Kyutza Herrera shooting and photos of guns seized during the operation, please contact the Attorney General’s Press Office at (916) 324-5500 or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at (323) 267-4813.

PORTERVILLE--California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today joined the Porterville Police Department in announcing a major takedown of the Varrio Central Poros, a brutal criminal street gang that has “terrorized” the City of Porterville for years.

“Gang activity has infested the streets of Porterville and terrorized the city,” Attorney General Brown said. “In response to the rising threat of violence, the California Department of Justice deployed Special Agents to work alongside the police department in cracking down on the Varrio Central Poros and bringing its members to justice. We have seized dozens of dangerous weapons and drugs, effectively draining this gang of its lifeblood.”

Today, the California Department of Justice and the Porterville Police Department, with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies, served 23 search warrants and 21 arrest warrants on the criminal hierarchy of the Varrio Central Poros. They made 17 arrests. Agents seized cocaine, meth, and marijuana during today’s takedown. They also seized weapons and ammunition for an AK47.

During the investigation which led to today’s arrests, agents conducted 94 surveillances, arrested 31 suspects and conducted 266 field interviews regarding the gang’s criminal activities. Approximately 18 search warrants were issued and 16 court orders were served. Gang members were also arrested for cocaine possession, carrying loaded firearms, and false imprisonment.

Agents seized 24 grams of meth, 56 grams of marijuana, 34 grams of cocaine, and 62 grams of heroin during the course of the investigation.

The Varrio Central Poros were involved in narcotics trafficking and distribution throughout Tulare County. Investigators found that they used proceeds from drug sales to post bail for fellow gang members and purchase dangerous weapons including rifles, shotguns and several handguns.

The Varrio Central Poros investigation began in October 2007 following a spate of gang-related homicides and violent crimes in Porterville, a town with a population of 51,000. From May 2006 to October 2007, the police department reported 17 homicides in the city, 13 of them gang-related and an increase in drive-by shootings. The violence reached a peak in October 2007 when the city reported 12 shootings within a 5-week period. The gang targeted rivals in the town and often their own members for execution if they were thought to be disloyal.

At the request of Porterville Police Chief Chuck McMillan, California Attorney General Brown dispatched 75 agents of the Department of Justice’s Gang Suppression Enforcement Team to Porterville in November 2007 to crack down on the gang. The State Department of Justice joined with the Porterville Police Department, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department, the Lindsay Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies throughout the central San Joaquin Valley.

“This is the finest example of law enforcement agencies pooling their resources to combat the common problem of gang activity,” said Porterville Police Chief Chuck McMillan.

The California Department of Justice assists local law enforcement when gang problems have become so severe that the crime is bleeding into neighboring jurisdictions. State agents have recently shut down a Nortenos street gang and a violent Cambodian street gang in Stockton, and a Sureño gang in Atwater. Brown’s special agents have also participated in recent crime crackdowns in East Palo Alto and Oakland.

The Varrio Central Poros organized themselves in the early 1990’s, originally known as Porterville’s Most Dangerous. The gang is affiliated with the notorious northern California prison gang Nuestra Familia and the Northern Structure prison gang. Nuestra Familia, a rival of the Mexican Mafia, was organized in Folsom State Prison in 1968 and operates primarily in the northern parts of California. There are approximately 120 Varrio Central Poros gang members in Porterville, ranging in age from 12 to 40 years.

The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office will prosecute the gang members arrested today. The suspects face various felony charges including murder, narcotics trafficking, carjacking, conspiracy to commit murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

The Porterville Police Department will use every lawfully available tactic to extract information from arrestees about recent gang related homicides, shootings and other criminal activities.

OAKLAND--California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today joined the Oakland Police Department in announcing the results of “Operation Nutcracker,” a major takedown of the violent Acorn gang that has terrorized the East Bay with homicides, drug trafficking and carjacking.

“The Oakland Police Department should be commended for fighting back against the violent gangs that have terrorized the good citizens of Oakland,” Attorney General Brown told a news conference at the City of Oakland Emergency Operations Center. “California Department of Justice special agents are proud to join with Oakland Police Department during the investigation and arrest of the violent Acorn gang’s key leadership.”

During today’s slew of early morning raids, the culmination of a three month investigation, approximately 250 officers from 17 state and local law enforcement agencies arrested at least 40 suspected gang members and associates, seized 8 guns, including 1 assault weapon, and confiscated drugs including marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy.

Today’s announcement marks the culmination of an extensive investigation into the Acorn gang, one of West Oakland’s most violent criminal street gangs. This morning, agents served approximately 30 search warrants in the Oakland and Northern East Bay area. The City of Oakland Emergency Operations Center at 1605 Martin Luther King Jr. in downtown Oakland was the command post for the operation.

The Acorn gang is a turf oriented criminal street gang that began its operation in the 1980s as a street level supplier of marijuana and cocaine in Oakland. During the past year, the Acorn gang had increased its violent activity against rival gang members and Oakland citizens, prompting the Oakland Police Department to concentrate investigative resources on the gang’s key leadership.

During today’s takedown, officers arrested Mark Candler, 33, one of the gang’s key leaders. Candler, also known as “MAC,” became the self-proclaimed leader of the Acorn gang at age 14. He has been a prolific drug trafficker in Oakland and Detroit, been shot several times and is suspected to be responsible for homicide and a number of shootings. He was arrested this morning in connection with an ongoing attempted murder investigation.

Last month, the California Department of Justice sent 10 special agents to provide investigative support to the Oakland Police Department during the investigation and the Acorn gang takedown. The state has facilitated surveillance of primary and secondary targets and provided additional investigative and intelligence support.

During the Oakland Police Department’s three month investigation, officers seized 31 firearms, captured 3 murder suspects and numerous robbery and assault suspects including the perpetrators of the Milano’s & Red Boy Pizza robberies. An Oakland Police Department analysis of West Oakland crime statistics indicates a 66 percent decrease in shootings and a 28 percent decrease in robberies since officers began targeting the Acorn gang with aggressive enforcement.

Law enforcement agencies which assisted the Oakland Police Department during the investigation and today’s takedown include the California Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Special agents in the California Department of Justice often temporarily assist local law enforcement when gang problems have become so severe that the crime is bleeding into neighboring jurisdictions. State agents have recently led operations to shut down a Norteno street gang in Stockton, a Crip gang in Atwater and a violent Cambodian Street gang in Stockton. Brown’s special agents also participated in an East Palo Alto crime crackdown, Operation Safe Neighborhood, last year. Approximately 27 percent of all California homicides between 1996 and 2005 were gang related.

For more information about state crime crackdowns and the role of special agents in the California Department of Justice visit: http://www.ag.ca.gov/monthly_feature/index.php. For additional information on today’s operation please contact the Oakland Police Department at (510) 238-7230.

STOCKTON--California Department of Justice special agents, in partnership with the Stockton Police Department, today arrested members of the violent Norteno street gang, which terrorized Stockton with drive-by shootings and crystal methamphetamine trafficking at the direction of the Nuestra Familia prison mafia.

“The Norteno street gang increased its drug trafficking and violent criminal activity in Stockton after our gang suppression team shut down one of its competitors, the Loc Town Crips, last year,” said Attorney General Brown. “Today’s crackdown demonstrates the importance of keeping relentless pressure on gangs that sell crystal meth and terrorize the public. The Stockton Police Department should be commended for its efforts to drive this street gang out of the city.”

The California Department of Justice Gang Suppression Enforcement Team, known as GSET, joined the Stockton Police Department in October 2007 to crack down on a violent Norteno gang which had recently increased its activity in Stockton. Last year, state agents shut down a violent Cambodian street gang in Stockton, the Loc Town Crips. The elimination of the Crips gang increased the opportunity for Nortenos to traffic crystal methamphetamine and commit assaults and drive by shootings.

“In the fight against gang violence in California it is important to follow-up after a crime sweep to prevent gang activity from returning,” said Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement Assistant Chief Jerry Hunter “This crackdown demonstrates that the attorney general’s gang enforcement team is committed to running meth traffickers out of town.”

Norteno gang members in San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties have committed an increasing number of gang-related shootings, stabbings, carjackings and residential robberies according to Stockton Police Department Detective James Ridenour. Today the Norteno street gang, which was first identified in the City of Stockton in 1990, has approximately 1,180 members and associates in Stockton.

This morning state agents and local police arrested 8 validated gang members and 6 affiliates, served 9 search warrants, conducted 4 parole searches and 2 probation searches. Agents seized 15 guns including 1 nine millimeter semi-automatic handgun, 2 rifles, 1 shotgun and various other handguns and ammunition. Agents also seized cocaine, methamphetamine, $42,000, and are a continuing to serve search warrants in Tracy, Lodi and Stockton.

All gang members arrested could face from three years up to 25 years to life in prison depending upon the charges which include possession of crystal meth for sales, weapons violations, conspiracies and participation in criminal street gangs and street terrorism including Penal Code Section 186.22.

The Nortenos arrested today were involved in street level drug trafficking, conspiracies to commit assault and multiple weapons violations. During the investigation which led to today’s arrests, agents arrested 14 suspected gang members in Tracy, Lodi and Stockton.

Nortenos are a Hispanic street gang controlled by Nuestra Familia, a rival of the Mexican Mafia, which was organized in Folsom State Prison in 1968 are operates primarily in the northern parts of California. The two prison mafias divide California into northern and southern territories through a line that runs between Delano to Salinas. Norteno gang members advertise their gang affiliation with symbols including the number 14, “209”, and “XIV” in graffiti, on clothing, and on tattoos. The gang members often claim the color red.

Agencies involved in today’s crackdown include the California Department of Justice Gang Suppression Enforcement Team, Stockton Police Department, Lodi Police Department, Tracy Police Department, Manteca Police, San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, The Central Valley Gang Impact Team, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, California Highway Patrol, San Joaquin County Probation, State Parole, and the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office.

The California Department of Justice launched the Gang Suppression Enforcement Team in 2006 in response to rising levels of street gang and violent criminal activity in California. There are gang suppression teams Los Angeles, Riverside, San Francisco and Fresno which disrupt the organizational flow of gangs to fight for a terror-free environment in California by:

• Identifying key gang leaders and ultimately dismantling the organization’s hierarchy
• Seizing street gang assets
• Gathering intelligence and sharing analysis with law enforcement agencies

State investigators often assist local law enforcement when the gang problem has become so severe that the crime is bleeding into neighboring jurisdictions. Approximately 27 percent of all California homicides between 1996 and 2005 were gang related.

For more information on the role of special agents in the California Department of Justice visit: http://www.ag.ca.gov/monthly_feature/index.php

For additional information on today’s arrests please contact the Stockton Police Department at (209) 937-8209.

EAST PALO ALTO – California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr., community leaders and regional law enforcement officials today announced the completion of Project Safe Neighborhood, a nine-month multi-agency “crime crackdown and citizen mobilization” aimed at curbing a wave of violence plaguing the City of East Palo Alto.

“This multi-agency crime crackdown and citizen mobilization put a real dent in the wave of violent crime plaguing East Palo Alto because law enforcement agencies joined together with a large group of involved citizens,” Brown told a news conference with community leaders and officials from the East Palo Alto Police Department and other law enforcement agencies. “Nevertheless,” Brown added, “the fight against crime in East Palo Alto is far from over. Gangs in California are getting increasingly bold, spreading out from neighborhoods to terrorize whole cities and even regions. Combating this new breed of urban gangsters requires widespread citizen involvement and a coordinated attack by both uniformed and undercover officers, suppressing mid and low level drug dealers day after day.”

A wave of violence struck East Palo Alto in late 2006, resulting in six homicides and 67 shootings. In response, Brown sent undercover agents from the Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement to gather intelligence and lead an anti-violence task force. Bureau agents joined with law enforcement agencies including the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, San Jose Police Department and East Palo Alto Police Department to conduct undercover investigations into upper-level drug traffickers, leading to arrests and drugs seizures including:

• 77 grams of heroin and 28 grams of black tar heroin
• 156 grams of cocaine
• 558 grams of crack-cocaine
• Two pounds of crystal methamphetamine

Together with numerous law enforcement agencies, the East Palo Alto Police Department made over 250 arrests, 400 parole and probation searches, 500 gang contacts and seized 45 firearms. Since the project was initiated, crime and violence has dropped dramatically in the city and there has been only one homicide.

The East Palo Alto Police Department also mobilized community members to participate in a 1000 person unity march and a 300 person youth summit. Community Organizations and police also engaged in crisis intervention, conflict mediation and negotiated cease-fires between rival gangs.

Other participants in today’s press conference include: City of East Palo Alto Mayor David Woods, City of East Palo Alto Vice-Mayor Patricia Foster, San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks, San Mateo County District Attorney Jim Fox, United States Attorney’s Office, California Highway Patrol Deputy Commissioner Art Anderson, San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Association Chief Susan Manheimer, San Mateo County Chief Probation Officer Loren Buddress, For Youth By Youth (FYBY) Douglas Fort, One East Palo Alto Executive Director Faye McNair-Knox, EPA Unity March & Rally Director Marina Latu, Pastor Paul Baines, East Palo Alto Police Chaplains, City of East Palo Alto Police Chief Ronald Davis.

California Attorney General Brown has made the fight against crime a top priority. In June, Brown’s Gang Suppression Enforcement Team took down 32 key leaders and associates of the Loc Town Crips, a Stockton-based Cambodian street gang responsible for extensive drug and gun trafficking. Agents uncovered widespread violence and drug dealing, including drive-by shootings and sales of methamphetamine, ecstasy and marijuana in California and around the United States.

In August, The Department of Justice cracked down on the A-Town Gang, a major central valley gang that terrorized the town of Atwater with robberies and murders and ran narcotics to states including Montana and Washington. Special agents joined the Atwater Police Department to serve 40 search warrants, arrest 26 suspects, and intercept a bulk delivery of marijuana, dismantling the gang’s criminal apparatus.

The California Department of Justice, Division of Law Enforcement is one of the largest state investigative law enforcement agencies in the United States. The division employs 450 sworn Special Agents, 200 forensic scientists, 600 civilian employees, and has an annual budget of $182 million. It is comprised of eight operational bureaus which include the California Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, the Bureau of Gambling Control, the Bureau of Firearms, the Bureau of Forensic Services, the Criminal Intelligence Bureau, the Mission Support Branch, and the Western States Information Network.

In August, Brown announced the appointment of George Anderson, Sacramento County Undersheriff, as the 13th Director of the Division of Law Enforcement for the California Department of Justice.

EL CENTRO – California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the “total dismantlement” of a significant Mexican Mafia cell in Imperial and San Diego Counties after a twenty-month investigation led to the indictment of 31 mafia members. The attorney general will prosecute the case with the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office.

California Attorney General Brown said: “The state will prosecute, to the fullest extent, these Mexican Mafia members and associates for their heinous crimes. Today’s arrests should send a strong message--law enforcement at all levels will fight for total dismantlement of these violent criminal organizations.”

In 2005, officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, California Department of Corrections, Imperial County District Attorney’s Office and California Attorney General’s Office formed the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force to conduct an investigation into the mafia’s criminal activities. The results of the investigation led the San Diego County Grand Jury to provide an indictment of the 31 defendants on August 21, 2007.

The indictment indicates that in November 2005, Mexican Mafia member Richard Buchanan of San Diego transferred authority over criminal activities in Imperial County to Patrick Ponce. Ponce oversaw drug trafficking operations and the extortion of local criminals, such as drug dealers and alien smugglers, in Imperial County.

Under the 46-count indictment, defendants are charged with violations of the California Penal, Health and Safety Codes, including: conspiracy to commit extortion and distribution of narcotics, attempted murder, solicitation to commit murder, kidnapping, extortion, attempted extortion, torture, drug sales, firearms sales, assault with the intent to commit great bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of an assault weapon. All 46 counts are gang-related under the California’s Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act, an enhancement that ensures all mafia members will face stiff sentences, if convicted, of seven years to life imprisonment.

The Mexican Mafia was formed as prison gang in Los Angeles during the mid-1950s and today it is considered to be one of most powerful, violent, and well-organized criminal organizations in California. The mafia’s connections reach beyond California prison walls to locations throughout the United States and Mexico. The California Department of Corrections reports that there are approximately 150 validated members and associate members of the Mexican Mafia that constitute the organization’s top leadership. A typical Mexican Mafia member has authority over criminal activities in a given jurisdiction, such as a prison or an entire county. In California, the Mexican Mafia sends orders, from prison, to thousands of local Hispanic gang members who carry out commands within prisons and on the streets.

During the investigation that led up to today’s crackdown, agents arrested 12 gang members and seized firearms, heroin, and methamphetamine.

Other law enforcement agencies who assisted with the investigation were the El Centro Police Department, Imperial County Sheriff’s Office, Calexico Police Department, Brawley Police Department, Holtville Police Department, California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Border Patrol, California Department of Corrections, Parole Division, Imperial Valley Narcotic Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The defendants will be arraigned next Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. in San Diego Superior Court, Department 11. The indictment is attached.

ATWATER — California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced a “major gang takedown,” following the arrest of dozens of A-Town Gang members in the town of Atwater. The crackdown, by State Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement agents, includes significant drug and gun seizures.

Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. said: “Too many Central Valley gang members think they can act with impunity. Law abiding citizens have too long been terrorized by thugs and small-time gangsters. Today’s major gang takedown should send a message: the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement will use every available legal tactic to rid rural counties of this growing cancer.”

The 150 member A-Town gang ran narcotics to states including Montana and Washington and terrorized Atwater--for decades--with robberies, murders, and illegal use of dangerous weapons. Today’s takedown culminated a focused effort to dismantle the A-Town crime apparatus and provide evidence for prosecution of its members to the fullest extent of the law. Investigations by Department of Justice agents garnished extensive intelligence on the gang’s national drug trafficking and criminal activity.

During Phase I of the takedown, which occurred Saturday morning, agents arrested seven top gang members and seized cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, firearms, vehicles and approximately $40,000. To date, agents have served approximately 40 search warrants, arrested approximately 26 suspects, and intercepted a bulk delivery of marijuana destined for Montana. Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement agents utilized intelligence tactics including gang graffiti tracking, arrest statistics analysis, and gang member and informant interviews.

Gang activity has plagued the city of Atwater and County of Merced for a number of years. Around 1990 the A-Town Dukes criminal gang was formed in Atwater and eventually became the A-Town Surenos, now commonly known as A-Town. This is the city’s largest gang and members are located all over Merced County. Gang members have been involved in numerous crimes including shootings, drug possession, drug sales, vehicle thefts, robberies and homicides.

Agencies involved in today’s operation include: California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement GSET (Gang Suppression Enforcement Team), Atwater Police Department, Merced County District Attorney’s Office, Merced County Sheriff’s Department, Merced Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol.
GSET Agents are experts in conducting complex investigations needed to dismantle violent criminal street gangs. The agents identify gang members, investigate gang-related violent crime, and assist local law enforcement agencies in gathering intelligence to conduct investigations and arrest top-level gang members.

WHAT: California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. will join with law enforcement at the 16th Annual National Gang Violence Conference sponsored by the California Gang Investigators Association and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 17, 2007. Attorney General Brown will be giving opening remarks.

WHO: Attorney General Brown joins with national and state law enforcement officials including Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton, Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Director Michael Sullivan. 1700 members of law enforcement are expected to attend the conference.

WHEN: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 17, 2007.

WHERE: Anaheim Marriott Hotel, Grand Ballroom

NOTE: for more conference information: http://www.cgiaonline.org/Conference2007/Six-Page-Flyer.pdf

STOCKTON -- California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced today a “major take down” of key leaders of the Loc Town Crips (LTC), a Stockton-based Cambodian street gang responsible for extensive drug and gun trafficking in California and throughout the country.

The attorney general's investigation, which began last December, uncovered widespread violence and drug dealing, including drive-by shootings and sales of methamphetamine, ecstasy and marijuana in California, North Carolina, Ohio, Philadelphia and Rhode Island. Gang members arrested Wednesday were charged with multiple weapons and drug offenses.

“The Loc Town Crips terrorized Stockton neighborhoods and operated a virtual underground business, using the Internet, text messaging and FedEx to complete their deals,” Brown said. “Today's major take down ends the reign of one of the most sophisticated and vicious gangs operating in California today.”

In the last six months, the gang participated in at least four drive-by shootings in the Stockton area alone. One gang member has already been arrested for homicide. LTC gang members posted photos of themselves flashing letter “L” gang signs on MySpace.com. Some of their aliases include “Looney,” “Joker” and “Grouch.” The gang also posted rap music touting their criminal behavior on various Web sites. The Loc Town Crips have a history of arrests and convictions for assault, robbery, residential robbery and murder. They are believed to have participated in dozens of drive by shootings in Stockton alone.

LTC has approximately 100 members in the Stockton area. Some gang members speak both English and Khmer. They identify with the color blue and the label LTC. One of their primary operation areas, dubbed 'Oak Park,' is an apartment complex located at 3830 N. Alvarado Street. Gang members commonly claim 'Oak Park' when identifying their gang.

The Loc Town Crips ran drugs in and out of California to pay for weapons which they used in drive by-shootings targeting rival gangs. The gang used commercial package services, including FedEx, DHL and UPS to transport drugs, cash and weapons as top gang members organized transactions with out-of-state associates via text messaging. The commercial carriers cooperated with law enforcement during the investigation. Top gang members also used text messages to plot violent acts including drive-by shootings of rivals.

The arrests, the largest California gang crackdown this year, were coordinated by the California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement Gang Suppression Enforcement Team, the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office, the Stockton Police Department, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, the San Joaquin County Probation Department, the Lodi Police Department, the Manteca Police Department, the Tracy Police Department, the Stockton Unified School District Police, and the Sacramento Police Department.

San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Tori Verber said that during the past two years, Asian gang members accounted for half of the local gang prosecutions, including assaults, drive-by shootings, and a murder within the Stockton area.

“In order to combat the fear and violence that results from gangs that exist throughout our communities, partnerships with various local, state and federal law enforcement agencies must continue and expand,” said Stockton Police Department Chief Wayne Hose. “No agency can do it alone. The Stockton Police Department appreciates the help, both in resources and manpower that we have received in this recent anti-gang operation and in the past. We look forward to a continued close working relationship with the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement and all the other agencies involved.”

Since the California Department of Justice agents began their investigation in December 2006, agents seized methamphetamine, weapons and $50,000 in drug proceeds. Intelligence used included tracking gang graffiti, reviewing arrest statistics and interviewing gang members.

The attorney general's Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement's Gang Suppression Enforcement Team consists of agents tasked with identifying, investigating and deterring gang-related violent crime. The agents are experts in conducting complex investigations needed to target and dismantle criminal street gangs. They assist local law enforcement agencies across the state in gathering intelligence and making cases and arrests against top-level gang members in a bid to disrupt their criminal enterprise.

There are nearly 500 Asian street gangs in California with the majority of them belonging to Vietnamese, Chinese/Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Hmong, and Mien gangs and are commonly referred to by law enforcement authorities as Southeast Asian gangs. The presence of Southeast Asian gangs in California began in the last 30 years after the fall of Saigon in 1975. Nearly all of their gang-related characteristics were adopted from existing street gangs and personalized for each of their respective gangs such as claiming colors, throwing hand signs and their way of walk, talk and dress.

See attached fact sheet for additional information.

Attorney General Brown will hold a press conference today at 1:00 p.m. at the Stockton Police Department 22 East Market Street, 2nd Floor Stockton, CA 95202