Alleged Stockton Gang Used Internet To Organize
Stockton Gang Raid Nets 30 Arrests, Guns & Drugs
(CBS 5) SAN FRANCISCO - An alleged Stockton-based gang known as the Loc Town Crips used the Internet to move guns and drugs across California and across the country.
Online, the Loc Town Crips sometimes go by the moniker "LTC." Popular sites like MySpace and YouTube are filled with street gangs flashing signs. Authorities say the Loc Town Crips posted photos of themselves and rap music tracks bragging about their criminal behavior.
The Internet was also used to recruit new members.
Former San Francisco gang member Larry Victoria said, "They go on MySpace and YouTube to find out who's in the neighborhood and who they could recruit for other members for their gangs."
Victoria now teaches high school students about gang prevention. He says he tells them bullets hurt and gangs are not fun. He knows that firsthand.
"The bullet entered through the side of my head and exited out of my mouth. I actually have a partially paralyzed tongue, paralyzed vocal chord. I have Teflon, which actually makes me able to talk."
Victoria said it's hard to teach gang prevention when competing with the Internet.
"Even smarter kids who are really educated are looking into gangs because their life seems a little boring," he said.
Gangs use the Internet to seduce an impressionable audience. What high school kid hasn't been on the video upload sites?
Mission High School sophomore Kevin Brown said, "I see their music, and it talks about sexual intercourse, drugs, and alcohol, and rape."
Student Angelique Soto was fascinated by a gang member she saw on MySpace. "He had a red and blue background and was flashing hand numbers."
Investigators say the Loc Town gang used cell phones to organize drug and weapon deals. FedEx and other delivery services transported it all to out-of-state associates. And text messaging was used to plan drive-by shootings of rivals.
"Computers, iPods -- they create more access for gang members to get at other gang members," said Victoria. "It puts us five stops behind the gang members, you know?"
Authorities hope that in the case of the Loc Town Crips, the photos, songs, and web messages will be part of the key evidence that could convict them.
(CBS 5) SAN FRANCISCO - An alleged Stockton-based gang known as the Loc Town Crips used the Internet to move guns and drugs across California and across the country.
Online, the Loc Town Crips sometimes go by the moniker "LTC." Popular sites like MySpace and YouTube are filled with street gangs flashing signs. Authorities say the Loc Town Crips posted photos of themselves and rap music tracks bragging about their criminal behavior.
The Internet was also used to recruit new members.
Former San Francisco gang member Larry Victoria said, "They go on MySpace and YouTube to find out who's in the neighborhood and who they could recruit for other members for their gangs."
Victoria now teaches high school students about gang prevention. He says he tells them bullets hurt and gangs are not fun. He knows that firsthand.
"The bullet entered through the side of my head and exited out of my mouth. I actually have a partially paralyzed tongue, paralyzed vocal chord. I have Teflon, which actually makes me able to talk."
Victoria said it's hard to teach gang prevention when competing with the Internet.
"Even smarter kids who are really educated are looking into gangs because their life seems a little boring," he said.
Gangs use the Internet to seduce an impressionable audience. What high school kid hasn't been on the video upload sites?
Mission High School sophomore Kevin Brown said, "I see their music, and it talks about sexual intercourse, drugs, and alcohol, and rape."
Student Angelique Soto was fascinated by a gang member she saw on MySpace. "He had a red and blue background and was flashing hand numbers."
Investigators say the Loc Town gang used cell phones to organize drug and weapon deals. FedEx and other delivery services transported it all to out-of-state associates. And text messaging was used to plan drive-by shootings of rivals.
"Computers, iPods -- they create more access for gang members to get at other gang members," said Victoria. "It puts us five stops behind the gang members, you know?"
Authorities hope that in the case of the Loc Town Crips, the photos, songs, and web messages will be part of the key evidence that could convict them.
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