*** ICE agents nab hundreds of suspected gang members and associates in 83 cities across the country pursuant to Project Big Freeze:
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have launched what they call "the largest operation of its kind in our agency's history," rounding up more than 470 gang members, gang associates and others across the country in one week. The crackdown, dubbed Project Big Freeze, had a "particular focus" on "transnational gangs" and their associates inside the United States illegally, ICE chief John Morton told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday. * * * Transnational gangs are often involved in drug, weapons and even human smuggling, and like any gang they "have a propensity toward violence," ICE said in a statement.
48 arrests in Charlotte, NC; 43 arrests in Texas . . . 26 of the arrests were in South Texas; 27 arrests in Alabama; 26 arrests in the Twin Cities, MN; 23 arrests in Detroit, MI; 21 arrests in Milwaukee, WI; 16 arrests in Denver, CO; 16 arrests in Philadelphia, PA; 12 arrests in Chicago, IL; 8 arrests in San Diego, CA; 5 arrests in Phoenix, AZ
*** 50 suspected gang members and associates arrested in Riverside, CA pursuant to Operation Promise following a 16-month investigation:
East Side Riva gang members regularly acted as a tentacle of the powerful Mexican Mafia, trafficking methamphetamine and protecting their turf with attacks on black people and bystanders, authorities alleged Wednesday in a sweeping federal complaint. Charges came as 650 officers from 34 local and federal agencies swarmed the gang's territory Wednesday morning to make 50 arrests, including Riva leaders and members of their rivals, the 1200 Blocc Crips.
*** Arlanza 13 member sentenced to death in Riverside, CA for following "Mexican Mafia bosses' orders to gun down an associate for cooperating with authorities in an auto-theft investigation."
*** 27 shootings in 27 days prompts gang crackdown in Fresno, CA.
*** Judge issues civil injunction against 49 alleged members of Hard Times in Garden Grove, CA which prohibits "members from operating or gathering as part of a gang"
*** Six reputed MS-13 members convicted in Charlotte, NC: "The federal jury deliberated for about four hours before finding the men guilty on all 36 charges. Their crimes ranged from murder and extortion to racketeering conspiracy and robbery."
*** In San Antonio, TX "a dozen members of the Texas Mexican Mafia were sentenced . . . to prison terms of six to 10 years for enforcing the gang's drug extortion tactics."
*** In Baltimore, MD two leaders of Tree Top Piru -- "one of whom produced the infamous 'Stop Snitching' videos" -- have been convicted:
Sherman Pride, 35, of Salisbury and Ronnie Thomas, 36, of Baltimore face a maximum of 20 years in prison on the racketeering charge. Pride could get a life term for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Prosecutors said the men were members of the Bloods' violent Tree Top Piru group, which sold drugs across the state. Pride led a TTP set on the Eastern Shore, and Thomas was a gang leader in Maryland, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Thomas produced two "Stop Snitching" videos, which encourage retaliation against anyone who cooperatates with police. Eight others connected to the videos have been convicted in federal court. Five other defendants charged with gang racketeering are expected to go on trial in March.
*** Feds bust Clifton Place Crew from the Bloods on drug and gun charges in Brooklyn, NY.
*** Suspected members and associates of the Hoodtown Mafia have been arrested in Pittsburgh, PA for their alleged roles in a $15 million Atlanta-to-Pittsburgh drug ring:
The investigation began in April and initially focused on drug dealing by David Parks of Pittsburgh, authorities said. Investigators used wiretaps to identify other people involved in the ring, including a North Side street gang known as the Hoodtown Mafia, Attorney General Tom Corbett said in a news conference. The crack, cocaine and heroin originated with Mexican drug gangs, he said. "A lot of the drugs we're seeing, you find the origin is that they're coming from Mexico," Corbett said. "Atlanta is definitely a source city."
*** Last two of nine Crips sentenced for torching shopping center in Denver, CO which was used as a hangout by rival Bloods.
*** Crips member convicted for his role in shooting against rival Bloods members in Fairbanks, AK.
*** Over an exchange of rival gang names a 16-year-old boy allegedly murders another 16-year-old in Minneapolis, MN.
