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Showing posts from September, 2009

Appeal by Trong Minh Nguyen, 26, whose lawyer was seeking to have the sentence reduced to four years

Appeal by Trong Minh Nguyen, 26, whose lawyer was seeking to have the sentence reduced to four years. Nguyen was convicted in 2008 of discharging a weapon with intent and possessing a loaded, unregistered handgun in connection with the July 6, 2006, shootout at the Pacific Place Mall on 36th Street N.E.Nguyen was in his parked BMW at the rear of the mall when gunmen in another vehicle opened fire on him and he returned several shots. The appeal panel concluded the trial judge's sentence was fair because of several aggravating factors surrounding the shooting.

17 year old girl was shot and killed on the front lawn of a Muldoon home

17 year old girl was shot and killed on the front lawn of a Muldoon home. Neighbors tell the Anchorage Daily News that this residence has been a persistent problem for loud noise, underage drinking and other problems in the area. Even that night, multiple calls by multiple neighbors were made to Anchorage Police complaining about the noise, traffic and drunken juveniles wandering around the neighborhood. News reports now tell us that the shooting was gang related. An early morning dispute between rival gangs led to the death of a 17 year old girl who was caught in the cross-fire. This tragic event leaves many of us in disbelief. We need to understand how this was able to happen, so we can prevent it from occurring in the future. It is certainly justifiable to question the actions, or inactions, of a few different groups. First of all the house in question is reportedly owned by AHFC; it is a low income rental unit with what are supposed to be strict rules regarding loud noise and illeg

victim reports that he was assaulted by 5-6 Hispanic males that he believes are 18th St gang members.

officers on patrol found a man bleeding from his head and face at 294 Meridian St. around 10:10 p.m. on Friday:The victim reports that he was assaulted by 5-6 Hispanic males that he believes are 18th St gang members.Nestor Rodriguez of Condor Street was arrested for the attack, police say. The 18th Street Gang is a large gang based in Los Angeles.

An 18-year-old man is behind bars and a 17-year-old male is wanted in connection with the deadly stabbing of a teenage girl in West Chester.

An 18-year-old man is behind bars and a 17-year-old male is wanted in connection with the deadly stabbing of a teenage girl in West Chester.Police arrested Khrendon Gray of Springfield Township early Friday morning and charged him with one count of murder. He appeared in court on Friday where a judge set his bond at $1 million. Gray is accused of fatally stabbing 15-year-old Amber Robinson Thursday evening. On Friday afternoon, West Chester police issued an arrest warrant for 17-year-old Rashon Martin of Forest Park. The warrant is for complicity to commit murder in connection to the death of Robinson.

knife bloodbath led to a brutal murder in Dublin was organised.

Gardai fear an England v Ireland fight was arranged after Bernard Dunne's world title defence on Saturday night, but it got completely out of control. British criminal Jason Lee Martin (41) died when weapons were produced in the mass brawl. A second man remains in hospital this evening after being hacked with a hatchet in the Parkwest bloodbath. "It appears to have been an arranged boxing match. But it got out of control when one guy pulled a knife and then everyone else reached for weapons," said a source. Hockey sticks, a hatchet, knives and broken glasses and bottles were all used in the melee. Many of the participants had earlier been at the Dunne fight in the O2. Martin (41) was on the run in Dublin while being hunted by British police for a killing in Lancashire last year. Gardai believe he was hiding out with criminals in Ballyfermot who he previously dealt drugs to -- and was socialising with them before being stabbed in the 20-man brawl outside Hannigen's bar

Pedro Gil III, 37, a member of the Los Hermanos de Pistoleros ( HPL ) prison and street gang, was among 21 defendants sentenced

Pedro Gil III, 37, a member of the Los Hermanos de Pistoleros ( HPL ) prison and street gang, was among 21 defendants sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sim Lake over the past seven days, United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today. Gil pleaded guilty April 30, 2009, to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than 150 kilograms of cocaine and to laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds together with 23 other HPL members or associates. Today, Gil was sentenced to 300 months for the conspiracy conviction and 240 months on the money laundering conviction to be served concurrently, without parole. The sentence is to be followed by five years supervised release and will forfeit all interest in eight real estate properties, multiple high-end vehicles and a laundry list of expensive jewelry seized upon his arrest in May 2008 as well as $4.5 million dollars in cash. The sentence reflects the court’s finding that Gil was a leader/manager of the conspiracy. The court

Royale LeBlanc,"Crazy Teno," now 23, was convicted on June 12 of first-degree murder for the Nov. 25, 2006, killing of Carlos Urzua

Royale LeBlanc, now 23, was convicted on June 12 of first-degree murder for the Nov. 25, 2006, killing of Carlos Urzua, of San Francisco. He was also found guilty of second-degree robbery and participation in a criminal street gang.Urzua, 29, was robbed and attacked by a handful of men at about 3 a.m. after being dropped off outside his home in the 900 block of Alabama Street. He was stabbed three times in the neck, abdomen and chest, suffering 18 wounds total. He died later at the hospital.Some of Urzua's friends witnessed the attack and called police as Urzua bled to death in his father's arms.LeBlanc and Jonathan Johnston, reputed Norteno gang members, were arrested a short time later after they were spotted driving nearby. Their white Chevrolet Caprice matched the description of the suspect vehicle and bloody clothes were found inside the car.LeBlanc, nicknamed "Crazy Teno," also had Urzua's cell phone.The main witness in the trial was a young man who testifie

Jose L Rodriguez, 19, of 117 N.E. 11th Ave., was booked into Walla Walla County Jail Sunday following several reports of shots fired

Jose L Rodriguez, 19, of 117 N.E. 11th Ave., was booked into Walla Walla County Jail Sunday following several reports of shots fired in the area of Second Avenue and Eagan Street shortly after midnight.Rodriguez was detained by members of the Special Teams Unit as he was apparently leaving the area in a vehicle immediately after the shots were fired, according to a Walla Walla Police Department news release. Rodriguez is being held on suspicion of first-degree assault and possession of methamphetamine. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of possessing drug paraphernalia. No bail had been set as of this morning pending a preliminary appearance before a judge.Near the scene, police recovered a semiautomatic SKS rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun that were apparently used in the shooting. No one is believed to have been injured.Events leading up to the shooting apparently originated at the National Guard Armory, 113 S. Colville St., where a fight was reported during a dance about 11:45 p.m. on

Major assault on the Avenues gang, hoping to deal a blow to an elusive group they say is responsible for some of Los Angeles' most notorious street cr

Major assault on the Avenues gang, hoping to deal a blow to an elusive group they say is responsible for some of Los Angeles' most notorious street crime. Under the cover of darkness around 3 a.m., roughly 1,200 heavily armed officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and several other agencies dispersed from a command post near the LAPD’s training academy in Elysian Park. Warrants in hand, they descended on dozens of homes in search of 53 alleged members or associates of the Avenues gang wanted on an array of federal charges related to extensive drug dealing, unsolved murders and other crimes. Forty-three suspects already are in custody on unrelated charges. The operation was aimed to bring new charges against 88 Avenues members or associates, a significant share of a gang that is believed to have about 400 members. Some suspects were sought elsewhere in the city, but the sweep focused on Glassell Park and other neighborhoods in the northe

Rickey Rice, 24, of Newport News, and 10 co-defendants were named in a 39-count indictment in March for their role in the “Dump Squad,”

Rickey Rice, 24, of Newport News, and 10 co-defendants were named in a 39-count indictment in March for their role in the “Dump Squad,” which grew from a national gang known as the “Bloods.” The gang operated in Newport News. The charges against the 11 co-defendants included murder, attempted murders, robberies, assaults, arson, witness intimidation, narcotics distribution and weapons violations. Rice pleaded guilty in April to his participation, specifically that he knowingly engaged in drug trafficking and crimes of violence, the news release said. He also pleaded guilty to maiming Tony Vaughan, who was beaten by gang members before being shot and killed, in the aid of racketeering activity. Three other defendants were sentenced earlier this month after pleading guilty to their roles in the gang. Ty Davis, 25, was sentenced Sept. 1 to serve 30 years in prison, and on Sept. 2, Twan Bugg, 23, was sentenced to 30 years and Samuel Bates, 27, was sentenced to 25 years. All three are from

Terrek K. Parker, 23,high-ranking member of the Burlington County-based street gang

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high-ranking member of the Burlington County-based street gang was sentenced Tuesday to 32 months imprisonment for smuggling guns into New Jersey.Terrek K. Parker, 23, of Babcock Lane was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and serve three years of federal supervision after he completes his prison term. He was also to have no contact with any members of the street gang MOE, also known as Muslims Over Everything.The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman this morning. Parker plead guilty in April to charges of conspiracy and five counts of aiding and abetting the making of false statements in the acquisition of firearms. During his guilty plea, Parker admitted that he conspired with Tonya D. Williams of Georgia, in a scheme where Williams purchased a total of eight firearms from pawn shops and sporting goods stores in Augusta, Ga., and then gave them to Parker, who transported them to New Jersey.The guns included a Glock .45 caliber pistol, a Glock .40 caliber pis

Police found Tory Lamont Smith, 27, of Fenwick Street on the second floor stairway suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest

Police found Tory Lamont Smith, 27, of Fenwick Street on the second floor stairway suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest, according to Sgt. John M. Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet. Police officers performed CPR on Smith who was taken to Baystate Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Uniformed officers John Taylor and James Jackson spotted a suspect leaving the area on foot down Dawes Street and stopped him. Charged with murder and carrying a firearm in connection with the shooting was Shadeed Jameel Mahdi, 24, of 75 Elmwood Ave., Holyoke, Delaney said. Mahdi was arrested at 6 p.m. Delaney said the killing is gang-related as was the Aug. 22 slaying that took the life of Jerry A. Hughes III. Hughes, 21, was gunned down in the parking lot of the McDonald's at the Mid-Town Plaza on State Street as bullets were sprayed around the crowded parking lot. A 13-year-old boy was grazed in the foot as he walked by the nearby Rebecca Johnson School. Two teena

Jaquan Bell, 16,an alleged Bloods gang member on charges of gunning down another teenager in the parking lot of Skate 22

grand jury has indicted an alleged Bloods gang member on charges of gunning down another teenager in the parking lot of Skate 22, a Union Township roller rink. Jaquan Bell, 16, was indicted late Wednesday and will be charged as an adult. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of the murder of Jean D'haiti, also 16, at the rink's Christmas night skating party last year, according to the Union County Prosecutor's Office. Bell is charged with murder and weapons possession.Police pulled him out of his school class and arrested him on March 4. Authorities would not identify the school, but Bell's attorney, Michael Robbins, said his client and D'haiti were former classmates at Elizabeth High School. Bail was set at $400,000, and Bell continues to be held at the Juvenile Detention Center in Union County. Several fist-fights broke out inside Skate 22 leading up to the shooting, which occurred around 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 26, authorities said. Nearly 700 people were attendi

27-year-old Latoya Cunningham was killed by gunmen yesterday.

Cunningham's body was found along the thoroughfare, near the Church of God Faith Temple, at around 2:30 pm by the police who were summoned by residents who reported hearing loud explosions.The police could not give a motive for the murder, but alleged that Cunningham was "no saint". "At the time of her death she was not wanted," one cop told the Observer. "But let's put it this way, at the time she died, she was no saint."Cunningham had previously been charged, but acquitted of the offences of murder, arson, shooting with intent and illegal possession of a firearm. Yesterday, residents speculated that the 27-year-old may have been killed because of her alleged involvement with street gangs.

Arron Young, a reputed member of the Crips street gang, is scheduled to go to trial the week of Nov. 2 on three counts of attempted murder

Twenty-three-year-old Arron Young, a reputed member of the Crips street gang, is scheduled to go to trial the week of Nov. 2 on three counts of attempted murder in connection with the incident.On the afternoon of Aug. 15, 2008, Fairbanks police responded to several reports that the occupants of two speeding vehicles were firing at each other on College Road between Aurora Drive and Danby Street.Three people in a green Buick said they were shot at by people inside a silver Isuzu SUV. The Buick had been struck by multiple bullets fired from a handgun.Several moving vehicles also were hit by bullets, and a bicyclist on the sidewalk took cover as the bullets flew. No injuries were reported.Young was arrested several weeks later after being identified as the driver of the Isuzu.At a hearing Thursday, Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Crail said that at trial she will call a gang expert from the Fairbanks Police Department, who will testify the College Road shooting was in retaliation fo

Sentenced five members of the Puro Lil Mafia (PLM) street gang

Sentenced five members of the Puro Lil Mafia (PLM) street gang following their guilty pleas to various firearms offenses, according to a a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. In April 2008, three of the five, Andrew Cecil Harris, 36; Hugo Lopez, 22; and Betty Bustillos, 25; were arrested by members of the Wichita Falls Police Department and FBI agents on federal weapons charges in an early morning round-up. The other two, Jessie James Greek; 27, and Jason Grantham, 20, were already in state/local custody on related charges.According to the release, Andrew Cecil Harris pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. He was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison.Hugo Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison.Betty Bustillos pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement during the purchase of a fire

Lawrence Ballard was charged on April 29 with first-degree murder for the shooting death of Colby Harris

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Lawrence Ballard was charged on April 29 with first-degree murder for the shooting death of Colby Harris. Harris was shot at the Brightwater Apartments, 2202 S. Phoenix Ave., on April 28. Police believe that Ballard, who uses the street name “Man Man,” had fought with Harris about money shortly before the shooting. Ballard was later charged on Aug. 11th with second-degree robbery based on allegations that he and several associates assaulted and robbed three University of Tulsa students. Ballard is a documented gang member, belonging to the 107 Hoover Crips and has many associates in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas and has been known to travel to these states frequently, according to the Marshals service. To aid in the task force in the investigation, Ballard has been elevated to the Department of Justice’s national Gang Targeting, Enforcement & Coordination Center’s (GangTECC) Most Wanted List. This most wanted list was developed by in conjunction with the Marshals Servic

Joe Richard Poston, 24, and Robert Benjamin Seats, 28, died of gunshot wounds after a shoot-out in the parking lot of J-Mumbly's

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Joe Richard Poston, 24, and Robert Benjamin Seats, 28, died of gunshot wounds after a shoot-out in the parking lot of J-Mumbly's, at 903 Hollywood Drive in the Hollywood Shopping Center. Police believe the men shot each other during an argument that began inside the club.Seven others - three women and four men - were injured in the incident. All of them were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Some have been treated and released, while others remain hospitalized.Jackson police also are investigating a second shooting that happened about 2:20 a.m. Sunday in the area of the Sesame Street Lounge, at 411 Railroad St. Tallis Croom, 22, was treated for a gunshot wound to his chest and released from the hospital. Lt. Tyreece Miller said Monday afternoon that Seats' and Poston's bodies had been sent to Nashville for autopsies. He said investigators would send bullets collected from the autopsies and bullets and casings from the parking lot to the Tennessee Bur

William Key, 21,accused of killing a 16-year-old as part of a Black Guerrilla Family gang rite has been sentenced

Baltimore man accused of killing a 16-year-old as part of a Black Guerrilla Family gang rite has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and related charges, prosecutors said. On Thursday, a jury was unable to reach a verdict against William Key, 21, who was accused in the Oct. 13, 2007, slaying of Deron Hope. Prosecutors say Hope was killed by Key and co-defendant Kenneth Robbins because Robbins wanted to be initiated into the gang. But after the hung jury, Key suddenly pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, the same charge Robbins pleaded to in May. Robbins is to be sentenced in November.

Three members of the notorious MS-13 gang pleaded guilty yesterday to stabbing a man and leaving him for dead

Three members of the notorious MS-13 gang pleaded guilty yesterday to stabbing a man and leaving him for dead inside a Hispanic nightclub in Chesterfield County last fall.One of the victim's five stab wounds to the chest punctured his heart in the Oct. 18 attack inside a restroom at Valentino's restaurant on Jefferson Davis Highway. The victim, who they mistakenly believed was their bitter rival, nearly died."The intent was to kill," said Matthew C. Ackley, special prosecutor of the Richmond-metropolitan multijurisdictional grand jury.Authorities described the attack, investigated by Chesterfield police and the Richmond Division of the FBI, as the most significant case of gang violence here involving known members of MS-13. The gang has local contacts but isn't believed to have gained a foothold in the region."The ones that we have identified have been from cliques in Northern Virginia," said Chesterfield Detective Keith Applewhite, a gang expert.The thr

Highland's Finest street gang fired a warning shot in the air as he told a group of up to 20 to "back the (expletive) up,"

Teenager, who was being questioned by police Monday, fired a warning shot in the air as he told a group of up to 20 to "back the (expletive) up," according to students who witnessed the melee."They was about to fight and he pulled the gun out of his pants and shot," said one student, who didn't want to be identified."Everybody took off running. Some jumped on buses, ran across the street, all over."Grand Rapids police and Grand Rapids Public Schools Safety Director Larry Johnson said they were trying to determine what preceded the 3:10 p.m. shooting at the 1720 Plainfield Ave. NE school.No one was hurt and police recovered the weapon, Grand Rapids police Capt. Pam Carrier said.Authorities were unsure if the gun was ever in the school, but plan to increase security before, during and after classes Tuesday.Johnson was to convene his staff and discuss options that could include using metal detectors. "We'll meet and determine how to go forward,&q

Female suspect was injured during a shootout with SQ officers in the Laurentians

Female suspect was injured during a shootout with SQ officers in the Laurentians on Sunday evening. Two people had tried to steal gas from a gas station in Mont-Tremblant around 11 p.m. and were intercepted by police when they tried to flee. There was an exchange of gunfire and a woman was injured and then arrested. A man fled into the forest and was arrested later in the morning.An SQ helicopter and search dogs joined the search for him. An apparent confrontation between street-gang members in Laval ended when a 20-year-old man was stabbed in the back. It happened just before 1 a.m. Monday inside a restaurant on Cure-Labelle boulevard in Chomedey. The victim and three or four friends had been arguing with another group when he was stabbed. Everyone else, including the victim's buddies, fled the scene. The back-stabbed man is expected to live and is not co-operating with investigators from his hospital bed.

Amos Brown believes that he has been targeted by the Money Green Gang, a group of youths from the Meadow Gardens housing complex

Amos Brown believes that he has been targeted by the Money Green Gang, a group of youths from the Meadow Gardens housing complex who have alleged ties to the notorious Bloods street gang. The Money Green Gang is known for drug dealing and suspected in multiple shootings in the city, according to an affidavit for Troy Davis, who was arrested by Norwalk police Tuesday on drug charges.Hunt was allegedly associated with the gang and his friend, alleged Money Green Gang member Corey Young, was convicted of stabbing Johnson, according to court documents.Brown said the gang violence has made AJ's life intolerable and prevented him from furthering his education in public schools. AJ has been confined to his room inside of Brown's Orchard Street home since his acquittal."I keep thinking they will come here, and it's a nasty feeling," said Robertson, who lives in Bridgeport but visits Norwalk often to see her son. "I'm shocked by a lot of this. I used to change the

Lima Street gang uniform of green shirts and dark pants

19-year-old alleged Carson City gang member was arrested at 4:27 p.m. Saturday on the corner of Lompa Lane and Highway 50 on suspicion of causing a fight. Bail was set at $1,132. According to the arrest report witnesses saw the man, along with several others all dressed in the known Lima Street gang uniform of green shirts and dark pants, beat the alleged victim.A witness reportedly told police the man jumped in the truck as the alleged victim drove away.“It is common practice for gang members to ‘jump in' new members of the gang or to ‘check them' when they have done something wrong,” the arresting officer wrote in the report. “Both instances involve beating of the members.”

Carlos Lopez, alleged Westside gang member was ordered held Wednesday to face charges

alleged Westside gang member was ordered held Wednesday to face charges in a bus stop shooting last year that left one man dead and the man's cousin wounded. Carlos Lopez, 32, targeted what appeared to be rival gang members - two men dressed in red clothing - at a downtown bus stop last year, say San Bernardino police. One of the men, 23-year-old Bobby Brookins, died. However, a witness at the same bus stop did not identify Lopez as the shooter in photo lineup and told a detective he thought the shooter may have been black because his voice lacked an accent. After listening to testimony from several witnesses, Judge Douglas Gericke ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold over Lopez to face charges at trial. The ruling came during a preliminary hearing in San Bernardino Superior Court. Lopez returns to court Sept. 18 to enter a formal plea on charges of murder and attempted murder. Prosecutors have also alleged the crimes benefit and promote a street gang. The surviving victim t

Steven Magana, 25, and Timothy Coronado, 22, are charged with attempted murder

Steven Magana, 25, and Timothy Coronado, 22, are charged with attempted murder and several enhancements tied to allegedly discharging a firearm and being members of a criminal street gang. Merced County sheriff's investigators believe the defendants and a third suspect, a 16-year-old juvenile who is being tried separately, went to the victim's Westside Boulevard residence on March 9 at 10:20 p.m. and shot him four times.The victim, who admits to being a former gang member himself, survived the incident. The identity of the victim has been withheld by the Sun-Star because of concerns about his safety.Merced County District Attorney David Sandhaus said the victim didn't identify the suspects at first because Coronado and the 16-year-old juvenile are his nephews -- and he wanted to protect them. Sandhaus said the defendants . A bullet also grazed his face. "There's no doubt in my mind it was them," he said.The victim admitted he purposefully withheld information

"transnational street gangs" such as MS-13, one of the largest Hispanic street gangs in the United States, and Sureno-13, one of the most significant

four-day operation targeting street gangs in north and central Alabama ended with 23 people arrested and facing possible deportation. U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents arrested 20 men, two women and one juvenile they said have ties to violent street gangs during a sweep of Jefferson, Shelby and Morgan counties. The effort targeted members of several "transnational street gangs" such as MS-13, one of the largest Hispanic street gangs in the United States, and Sureno-13, one of the most significant gangs operating in the Southeast, according to the National Gang Intelligence Center, a group supported and staffed by various government agencies. Such gangs have high numbers of foreign-born members and are frequently involved in human trafficking, drug smuggling and immigration violations, according to ICE. Other gangs mentioned in the announcement of the arrests were Lejion Negra, Judas 13, Southside Locotes and La Quemada. "Street gangs account for a significan

Shawn A. Goldfinch is an alleged member of the Nortenos street gang.

Shawn A. Goldfinch, 27, made a preliminary appearance on the charges in U.S. District Court on Friday. According to a criminal complaint, he sold cocaine to an informant working with police on Feb. 4, March 16 and March 24. The alleged deals were captured via audio recordings. The case was investigated by the Safe Streets Task Force, which includes the FBI, Vancouver police, sheriff’s deputies and Department of Corrections agents.The government also alleges Goldfinch is a member of the Nortenos street gang.man whom federal agents characterized as a "member of a violent Vancouver street gang" faces charges of dealing in cocaine and crack cocaine.

Dennis "Dog" Rios, 40, suffered from AIDS for the last 10 years was arrested

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Apple Valley gang member has been knowingly transmitting HIV/AIDS to women for the last decade, authorities said today. Dennis "Dog" Rios, 40, was arrested last week while sheriff's detectives were investigating an alleged drug house in the 12000 block of Navajo Road. While interviewing people at the home, detectives said they happened upon Rios. They discovered he has suffered from AIDS for the last 10 years but has continued to have sex with women without telling them. Officials have tracked down one victim and expects several more to come forward.He is being held at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of knowingly transmitting the disases.

Westside gang member was ordered held Wednesday to face charges in a bus stop shooting

alleged Westside gang member was ordered held Wednesday to face charges in a bus stop shooting last year that left one man dead and the man's cousin wounded. Carlos Lopez, 32, targeted what appeared to be rival gang members - two men dressed in red clothing - at a downtown bus stop last year, say San Bernardino police. One of the men, 23-year-old Bobby Brookins, died. However, a witness at the same bus stop did not identify Lopez as the shooter in photo lineup and told a detective he thought the shooter may have been black because his voice lacked an accent. After listening to testimony from several witnesses, Judge Douglas Gericke ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold over Lopez to face charges at trial. The ruling came during a preliminary hearing in San Bernardino Superior Court. Lopez returns to court Sept. 18 to enter a formal plea on charges of murder and attempted murder. Prosecutors have also alleged the crimes benefit and promote a street gang. The surviving victim t

Plattekill man beaten half to death and left on the street

Plattekill man beaten half to death and left on the street, police said.Officers arrived about 1 a.m. Sunday to Hasbrouck Street and found the 23-year-old man bludgeoned, stabbed and sliced. He had multiple punctures in his torso and a deep gash on the top of his head, police said.He went to the Newburgh campus of St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital where staff discovered his arm and leg were broken. His condition was serious.Three witnesses helped officers track the attackers, police said. A 20-year-old woman told police she watched four of the assailants drive away in a Jeep Cherokee. She followed in another vehicle and called police. When officers stopped a Jeep on Johnes Street, she and a 22-year-old man came and identified suspects.Police arrested the four occupants: 30-year-old Lucio Ramirez, 16-year-old Edgardo Perez and two 15-year-old boys.The 22-year-old witness told officers the four were part of 10 or so who beat the man with a bat and hacked at him with a machete. A third wit

200 alleged Bulldog gang members arrested

600 people had been arrested in the month-long sweep. More than 200 of them were alleged Bulldog gang members.Dyer told reporters at a news conference that the Bulldog street gang was attempting to make a comback, but that officers would continue targeting gang members.He said part of the growing gang problem is that parolees are getting out of prison and joining gangs.

Pacific Paper Products and an employee, were taken into custody for allegedly selling illegal weapons to Santa Barbara gang members.

Narcotics division of the Santa Barbara Police Department, shut down operations of a paper products business on Tuesday, after finding evidence of employees selling illegal street weapons.According to Lt. Paul McCaffrey, the owner of Pacific Paper Products and an employee, were taken into custody for allegedly selling illegal weapons to Santa Barbara gang members.Police confiscated weapons such as brass knuckles, throwing stars and even a blow gun.Lt. McCaffrey says, there was substantial evidence that these items were being sold for profit to members of local street gangs.

Nelson Boys gang, based on East 116th Street feuded last fall with the Benham Miles Family gang

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Jeffrey Grant faced up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder, improper discharge of a firearm, criminal gang activity and using a gun in a drive-by shooting. He testified against another gang member who was convicted last week. 18-year-old Cleveland man was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison for his role in gang-related shootings that injured four people, including a man in a wheelchair. "I am sorry," Grant said as he stood before Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Janet Burnside. "I made a mistake. I would like another chance to become a better man. I will spend the time to educate myself to be a better man." Grant was a member of the Nelson Boys gang, based on East 116th Street. The gang feuded last fall with the Benham Miles Family gang, from nearby Benham and Miles avenues. The territorial battle erupted Nov. 14 in gunfire after BMF members shot at a Nelson Boy's van, putting two holes in it on Miles Avenue. Grant and Dasean

North Vancouver Persian Pride gang David Tajali,murdered was once involved in a feud between rival gangs of Iranian origin in B. C.'s Lower Mainland.

Sources confirmed to the Calgary Herald the man who died was David Tajali, who was once involved in a feud between rival gangs of Iranian origin in B. C.'s Lower Mainland.Two brothers with ties to a gang war in B. C. were caught in a spray of gunfire in southwest Calgary early Sunday, leaving one dead and the other recovering in a city hospital.The second man, now in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, is Tajali's younger brother, Niki, who is a known B. C. gangster. The elder Tajali was once aligned with the North Vancouver Persian Pride gang and later the United Nations, and the younger brother has some of the same affiliations. David Tajali was also the victim of an attempted murder in November 2006 when he was shot at his Richmond apartment.But it was the shooting that unfolded around 2:30 a. m. Sunday that took his life, sparking a police investigation that had officers poring over evidence at a crime scene that stretched for several blocks.Residents reported hear

Jose Rodolfo Escajeda, is considered one of the bloodiest hitmen in the crime-ridden state of Chihuahua and a leader of the powerful Juarez Cartel

Troops captured the suspected killer of 17 patients at a rehabilitation clinic in northern Mexico, one of the deadliest attacks in President Felipe Calderon's three-year war against drug cartels, local media said on Saturday. The suspect, Jose Rodolfo Escajeda, is considered one of the bloodiest hitmen in the crime-ridden state of Chihuahua and a leader of the powerful Juarez Cartel. He is on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's most-wanted list for marijuana and cocaine smuggling into the United States. About a dozen hooded men burst into a clinic in the violence-plagued industrial city of Ciudad Juarez, across from El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, lined up patients and killed 17 of them. Turf wars and targeted attacks by drug trafficking gangs have killed more than 13,000 people across Mexico since Calderon took power in late 2006 and launched his drug war, a level of violence that has alarmed Washington and unnerved both tourists and investors. Drug gangs have targeted re

Mara 18 and the Mara Salvatrucha.

They have exported their gang culture — learned by expatriates returned from undocumented existence in the big cities of the United States — to other countries in Central and South America, re-exporting their influence back to the U.S., moving beyond petty thievery, flashy tattoos and thuggish violence, to drug-trafficking and large-scale extortion.For the last three decades, successive Salvadoran governments have tried to curtail the two Maras. In the 1990s the Salvadoran government instituted a policy that became known as the Mano Duro (Strong Hand), that saw thousands of gang members jailed. But Mano Duro has not stopped the gangs. Corruption at the highest levels of government has allowed many leaders to go free or conduct business from behind bars. Saul Turcios Angel, also known as the "Pitbull," ran a kidnapping and extortion ring as part of Mara Salvatrucha. He escaped from a Salvadoran prison last year and was apprehended in Nicaragua earlier this week. Turcios faces