Friends of Ours

Four Gangbangers Charged In Mob Hit

Montreal police have arrested four men for their alleged roles in the January hit against Gaétan Gosselin as reported by The Gazette:  "police commander Ian Lafrenière said Wednesday that the murder suspects are high-ranking street gang members believed to be contracted by the Italian mob."

Gosselin was the former brother-in-law of Raynald Desjardins who is awaiting trial for his alleged role in the November 2011 slaying of ex-Bonanno boss Salvatore "Sal the Ironworker" Montagna.

Police allege that Desjardins ordered Montagna hit after their failed bid to wrest control of the Montreal Mafia from reputed boss Vito Rizzuto as he served time in a U.S. prison on a racketeering conviction involving the 1981 murders of three Bonanno capos in New York City. 

Rizzutto was released last October.

New Jersey Takes Out 800 Blok

Twenty-eight suspected members of the 800 Blok street gang in  Atlantic City, NJ variously have been hit with drug, weapons and other charges following an 8-month investigation as reported by WPVI:  "during the operation, authorities say they seized three handguns and a shotgun, as well as significant quantities of heroin and cocaine."

NBC40.net

Street Gangs Evolve In Las Vegas

In Las Vegas, NV the street gangs are placing less emphasis on strife and more focus on profit as reported by George Knapp for KLAS: 

Sgt. Will Huddler said the new hybrid gangs might be Crips and Bloods and include members who are black, white and Hispanic, making it less obvious to police and less hostile to each other. Illicit profits are their goal, and social media are their most valuable tools. Metro police have had to likewise adapt. "They have now come to the conclusion that it is better to pursue their business interests rather than shooting at each other and everybody makes money," Lt. Chris Petko said.

8 News NOW

New Orleans Discovers Racketeering Law

The New Orleans District Attorney has brought a racketeering indictment against 15 suspected members of the 110'ers gang "involving 15 killings, numerous attempted murders and armed robberies and other violence across the city" as reported by John Simerman for The Times-Picayune.  Among the charged murders is the 2012 killing of a 5-year-old girl who was brought down by stray gunfire while attending a birthday party.  Apparently the DA only recently discovered the "obscure state racketeering statute."  Really?  Better late than never.

Murder At A Funeral

There's no safe quarter in Newark, NJ.

Police believe that an internal feud within the Bloods sparked the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man who was attending his uncle's funeral in the lawless town as reported by The Star-Ledger:  "The shooter just appeared, went up to the victim, and killed him.  Seven or eight shots, right here in the parking lot."