Authorities say the ethnic Cambodian suspects led a drug distribution ring.
June 6, 2007
By Tim Reiterman, Times Staff Writer
Los Angeles Times (LA, Calif., USA)
STOCKTON -- As part of a new statewide crackdown on gangs, hundreds of law enforcement officers raided the homes of ethnic Cambodians here early today, arresting suspected leaders of a drug distribution network that authorities said stretched to several states.
Officials in the office of state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, which organized the raids, said the suspects were part of a gang called the Loc Town Crips.
Authorities said the group used text messaging and private parcel services to sell marijuana, methamphetamine and ecstasy in North Carolina, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Ohio. In return, authorities said, gang members received cash and firearms, many of which ultimately were used in drive-by shootings.
In recent months, the state's gang task force and local authorities intercepted $50,000, 12 ounces of methamphetamine and half a dozen handguns in packages shipped through United Parcel Service and Federal Express, authorities said.
The attorney general's anti-gang unit has operated for several years, but officials in the office said Brown, who is scheduled to hold a news conference today, had made gang suppression a priority. Today's raid is part of a new state push against gang leaders, they said.
"Gangs are top priority for the attorney general and for Californians," said Pete Sarna, deputy director of the law enforcement division of the state's Department of Justice. "Lots of emphasis is being placed on gangs because many cities have problems. It is impacting not just larger cities, but cities like Stockton, Fresno, Salinas and Oakland. What once was viewed as a Los Angeles problem has become more widespread."
Sarna said the Stockton raids were made in cooperation with local law enforcement officials. He said the attorney general's help had been requested by a dozen other jurisdictions plagued by gang problems.
More than 300 officers, including state agents, members of the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office and police from Stockton and surrounding communities, raided about two dozen homes in a variety of neighborhoods.
Authorities did not immediately say how many people had been arrested.
Officers seized weapons including handguns, shotguns and samurai swords.
Reporters were taken along on some of the raids. Several of the homes were pocked with bullet holes from what authorities said were drive-by shootings.
In one quiet block of $600,000 to $700,000 homes with thick green lawns and earth-tone paint jobs, neighbors said there had been two shootings in recent months.
Neighbors said more than 30 shots were fired at one home, where some of the occupants returned fire. The gunfire also damaged nearby homes, breaking a window and penetrating a stucco wall. A Lincoln Navigator in the driveway still had a bullet hole in the side.
One neighbor, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she feared retaliation, said residents were angry because they felt helpless.
"It's very frustrating and unsettling not knowing if it's going to happen again," she said.
Officials said the suspects, most of them born in the United States, were not allied with the notorious Crips gang in Los Angeles.
tim.reiterman@latimes.com
June 6, 2007
By Tim Reiterman, Times Staff Writer
Los Angeles Times (LA, Calif., USA)
STOCKTON -- As part of a new statewide crackdown on gangs, hundreds of law enforcement officers raided the homes of ethnic Cambodians here early today, arresting suspected leaders of a drug distribution network that authorities said stretched to several states.
Officials in the office of state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, which organized the raids, said the suspects were part of a gang called the Loc Town Crips.
Authorities said the group used text messaging and private parcel services to sell marijuana, methamphetamine and ecstasy in North Carolina, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Ohio. In return, authorities said, gang members received cash and firearms, many of which ultimately were used in drive-by shootings.
In recent months, the state's gang task force and local authorities intercepted $50,000, 12 ounces of methamphetamine and half a dozen handguns in packages shipped through United Parcel Service and Federal Express, authorities said.
The attorney general's anti-gang unit has operated for several years, but officials in the office said Brown, who is scheduled to hold a news conference today, had made gang suppression a priority. Today's raid is part of a new state push against gang leaders, they said.
"Gangs are top priority for the attorney general and for Californians," said Pete Sarna, deputy director of the law enforcement division of the state's Department of Justice. "Lots of emphasis is being placed on gangs because many cities have problems. It is impacting not just larger cities, but cities like Stockton, Fresno, Salinas and Oakland. What once was viewed as a Los Angeles problem has become more widespread."
Sarna said the Stockton raids were made in cooperation with local law enforcement officials. He said the attorney general's help had been requested by a dozen other jurisdictions plagued by gang problems.
More than 300 officers, including state agents, members of the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office and police from Stockton and surrounding communities, raided about two dozen homes in a variety of neighborhoods.
Authorities did not immediately say how many people had been arrested.
Officers seized weapons including handguns, shotguns and samurai swords.
Reporters were taken along on some of the raids. Several of the homes were pocked with bullet holes from what authorities said were drive-by shootings.
In one quiet block of $600,000 to $700,000 homes with thick green lawns and earth-tone paint jobs, neighbors said there had been two shootings in recent months.
Neighbors said more than 30 shots were fired at one home, where some of the occupants returned fire. The gunfire also damaged nearby homes, breaking a window and penetrating a stucco wall. A Lincoln Navigator in the driveway still had a bullet hole in the side.
One neighbor, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she feared retaliation, said residents were angry because they felt helpless.
"It's very frustrating and unsettling not knowing if it's going to happen again," she said.
Officials said the suspects, most of them born in the United States, were not allied with the notorious Crips gang in Los Angeles.
tim.reiterman@latimes.com
7 comments:
Yep, Gangs, Drugs, ..., and losers
are all made in the US. No doubt
about it that it has deeply
infected our society in Cambodia.
Soon, it will effected Laos as
well, once Laos are open up more
to the US and those who are already
infected by the US evil culture
like us. Thus, I urge the Laotian
administration to stiffen up all
their criminal laws first before
allowing any Ah Loa-Gringoes to
come to live in Laos.
Deport them back to Cambodia; tell them to attack ah Hun Sen.
Bullshit, just give them their
stupid US citizenship, then send
them to corrupted State (Louisianna) or something.
Yes I agree with you 8:18am Just send those idiots back to Cambodia and let Ah Hun Kwak teaches them a lesson.
Only you 11:07am who know nothing about US law,can give them stupid US citizenship like Ah Sen Khvack CPP gave fake Khmer citizenship to millions of Youn.
Well, if the US knows anything
about rule-of-law, then they know
those people is entitled to the US
citizen as you did, 11:46. Isn't
that right?
Yes,I said send them back to Cambodia to clean the streets in P.PENH. And then drug them to attack the CPP.How's that sound?
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