30 Arrested in LI Gang Sweep
By The Associated Press
February 4, 2004, 1:38 PM EST
Claiming their turf wars "have unleashed a wave of barbaric violence" across Long Island, federal prosecutors on Wednesday announced charges against 30 alleged members of three violent street gangs, accused of crimes ranging from murder to robbery to drug dealing.
The gang roundup, code named Operation Streetsweeper, took place over the last month, although it is the "product of years of work" by investigators, said Andrew Hruska, assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District.
The defendants included members of MS13, the Bloods, and The Murder Unit, and stretched from central Nassau County to Greenport on the far eastern tip of Long Island, Hruska said.
The charges include five killings, including the September 2003 shooting death of a 14-year-old Roosevelt boy who was riding his bike. Prosecutors believe he was shot by a Bloods member who mistakenly thought the teen was a member of a rival gang because he was dressed in blue, a color worn by Crips gang members.
In another alleged killing, a 19-year-old was shot by two fellow MS13 members who suspected he was a police informant.
Some members of The Murder Unit were charged with a midday shootout near a Greenport playground in March 2003, prosecutors said.
Other charges include drive-by shootings, a fire bombing, stabbings, robberies and drug dealing, dating back to the late 1990s, said Hruska. Some of the defendants face the possibility of capital punishment, while others could be sentenced to life in prison without parole, he said.
"Gang violence is a natural outgrowth of gang presence," said Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota, part of a cadre of local, state and federal officials who gathered at the Alfonse D'Amato Federal Courthouse to announce the arrests.
"We do indeed have a significant gang problem here on Long Island," Spota said. "But we are prepared to meet it head-on."
Hruska said law enforcement officials did not have precise numbers on the scope of the gang problem on Long Island, other than to note it was substantial.
"These arrests will have an effect, I hope," he said. "I want to stress this is not the end" of the investigation.
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.
30 Arrested In Long Island Gang Sweep
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Anonymous20
Re: 30 Arrested In Long Island Gang Sweep
Im from NY LONG island Roosevelt I know mad shit about this when it first happened I will try and raply with mad info
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lb516
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Re: 30 Arrested In Long Island Gang Sweep
one of the blood sets caught up are from roosevelt
Velt Gangsta Lanes
Velt Gangsta Lanes
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Anonymous20
Re: 30 Arrested In Long Island Gang Sweep
yea im from the Velt aka roosevelt I no ppl in Velt Gangsta Lanes
By Zachary R. Dowdy
STAFF WRITER
February 5, 2004
Rhonda White would like to look into the eyes of the man who authorities said gunned down her 14-year-old nephew, and ask him a simple question: "I would ask him why he did it."
White's nephew, Jose White, 14, of Freeport, was cut down by a bullet as he rode his bicycle on West Fulton Avenue in Roosevelt on Sept. 23, 2001. "I have no idea who he is or why he did this but that's what I need for closure."
She may get her chance.
In a sweeping roundup of alleged gang members, federal authorities announced yesterday that Laval Farmer, who they say fired a gun whose bullet pierced White's heart and lungs, is one of 30 area men who they arrested and charged over the past several months with a host of federal crimes.
The crimes include five murders and several assaults, stabbings, robberies, shootings and drug dealing occurring in both Long Island counties between August 2000 and October 2003.
They all allegedly were committed by members of three gangs, the Bloods, MS-13 and Murder Unit, whose operations stretch 80 miles, from Hempstead in Nassau to Greenport on Suffolk's North Fork.
"These gangs are ruthless and highly organized," Andrew C. Hruska, chief assistant U.S. attorney, said at a news conference in Central Islip yesterday, adding that the gangs were responsible for a "wave of barbaric violence."
Hruska said federal prosecutors will invoke the harsher federal laws, on top of the state charges that some already face, because they can impose longer terms and, as punishment for the gang-related homicides, may include the death penalty. He said prosecutors will use federal racketeering laws originally crafted to nab organized crime figures in the mob.
In addition to White's killing, the homicides also include the Sept. 13 killing of Edgardo Sanchez in North Massapequa; the killing of Jesus Valentin on July 3 in Central Islip; the killing of Jaime Figueroa on Feb. 23 in Freeport; and the killing of Jose Alberto Cruz Sr. on July 31, 2001, in Roosevelt.
"It's about time that they did something to send a message to these gangs," said Rhonda White, reacting to the roundup, titled Operation Streetsweeper. "It's really out of control. It's like Iraq here. You can be an innocent bystander and get caught up in someone's gang war and they're fighting about something that doesn't make sense."
Indeed, law enforcement authorities believe Jose White was killed simply for wearing a blue shirt, the color preferred by the Crips, a gang that rivals the Bloods, the gang to which they said Farmer belongs.
Other victims allegedly were targeted for various reasons: one person's cheek was nearly bitten off, allegedly by a member of Murder Unit, because the victim was perceived as encroaching upon the group's drug turf.
Last January, a bouncer at a Hempstead night club was beaten into a coma because he asked alleged members of MS-13 for identification to check whether they were old enough to drink alcohol, authorities said.
"It's very clear from what we have seen today that we do, indeed, have a significant gang problem on Long Island," said Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota.
The charges come after years of investigations with several law enforcement agencies making up the Long Island Gang Task Force.
The nine agencies involved include Nassau and Suffolk police departments, Hempstead Village police, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Nassau County Department of Corrections, the New York State Police, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Southold Town police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Gangs
A capsule look at the three gangs whose members were arrested yesterday as part of "Operation Streetsweeper."
BLOODS
History: Founded in Los Angeles more than two decades ago; came to Long Island in the 1990s.
Based: Members of local units, called "sets," from Roosevelt and Hempstead were charged yesterday. Investigators say there are more sets on the Island.
Most Notorious Local Crime: Charged with killing Jose White, 14, by shooting him in the back as he peddled away on his bike in Roosevelt in 2001.
MS-13
History: Gang started in Los Angeles and came to Long Island in the 1990s. Members usually are immigrants from El Salvador or Guatemala.
Based: Local units, called "cliques," are in Brentwood, Copiague, Farmingdale, Freeport, Hempstead, Huntington Station, Islip, New Cassel, Roosevelt and Westbury.
Most Notorious Local Crime: Killed Jennifer Grimes, 14, in a 2001 drive-by as she sat on a curb in New Cassel next to a man who MS-13 members mistakenly thought was a member of the Bloods.
MURDER UNIT
History: Began in Greenport in 2000 by a group of four so-called "forefathers."
Based: Third Street, Greenport
Most Notorious
Local Crime: Members used automatic weapons during a wild shootout with rival drug dealers near a local playground in 2003.
SOURCE: Staff reporting
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc. | Article licensing and reprint options
By Zachary R. Dowdy
STAFF WRITER
February 5, 2004
Rhonda White would like to look into the eyes of the man who authorities said gunned down her 14-year-old nephew, and ask him a simple question: "I would ask him why he did it."
White's nephew, Jose White, 14, of Freeport, was cut down by a bullet as he rode his bicycle on West Fulton Avenue in Roosevelt on Sept. 23, 2001. "I have no idea who he is or why he did this but that's what I need for closure."
She may get her chance.
In a sweeping roundup of alleged gang members, federal authorities announced yesterday that Laval Farmer, who they say fired a gun whose bullet pierced White's heart and lungs, is one of 30 area men who they arrested and charged over the past several months with a host of federal crimes.
The crimes include five murders and several assaults, stabbings, robberies, shootings and drug dealing occurring in both Long Island counties between August 2000 and October 2003.
They all allegedly were committed by members of three gangs, the Bloods, MS-13 and Murder Unit, whose operations stretch 80 miles, from Hempstead in Nassau to Greenport on Suffolk's North Fork.
"These gangs are ruthless and highly organized," Andrew C. Hruska, chief assistant U.S. attorney, said at a news conference in Central Islip yesterday, adding that the gangs were responsible for a "wave of barbaric violence."
Hruska said federal prosecutors will invoke the harsher federal laws, on top of the state charges that some already face, because they can impose longer terms and, as punishment for the gang-related homicides, may include the death penalty. He said prosecutors will use federal racketeering laws originally crafted to nab organized crime figures in the mob.
In addition to White's killing, the homicides also include the Sept. 13 killing of Edgardo Sanchez in North Massapequa; the killing of Jesus Valentin on July 3 in Central Islip; the killing of Jaime Figueroa on Feb. 23 in Freeport; and the killing of Jose Alberto Cruz Sr. on July 31, 2001, in Roosevelt.
"It's about time that they did something to send a message to these gangs," said Rhonda White, reacting to the roundup, titled Operation Streetsweeper. "It's really out of control. It's like Iraq here. You can be an innocent bystander and get caught up in someone's gang war and they're fighting about something that doesn't make sense."
Indeed, law enforcement authorities believe Jose White was killed simply for wearing a blue shirt, the color preferred by the Crips, a gang that rivals the Bloods, the gang to which they said Farmer belongs.
Other victims allegedly were targeted for various reasons: one person's cheek was nearly bitten off, allegedly by a member of Murder Unit, because the victim was perceived as encroaching upon the group's drug turf.
Last January, a bouncer at a Hempstead night club was beaten into a coma because he asked alleged members of MS-13 for identification to check whether they were old enough to drink alcohol, authorities said.
"It's very clear from what we have seen today that we do, indeed, have a significant gang problem on Long Island," said Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota.
The charges come after years of investigations with several law enforcement agencies making up the Long Island Gang Task Force.
The nine agencies involved include Nassau and Suffolk police departments, Hempstead Village police, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Nassau County Department of Corrections, the New York State Police, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Southold Town police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Gangs
A capsule look at the three gangs whose members were arrested yesterday as part of "Operation Streetsweeper."
BLOODS
History: Founded in Los Angeles more than two decades ago; came to Long Island in the 1990s.
Based: Members of local units, called "sets," from Roosevelt and Hempstead were charged yesterday. Investigators say there are more sets on the Island.
Most Notorious Local Crime: Charged with killing Jose White, 14, by shooting him in the back as he peddled away on his bike in Roosevelt in 2001.
MS-13
History: Gang started in Los Angeles and came to Long Island in the 1990s. Members usually are immigrants from El Salvador or Guatemala.
Based: Local units, called "cliques," are in Brentwood, Copiague, Farmingdale, Freeport, Hempstead, Huntington Station, Islip, New Cassel, Roosevelt and Westbury.
Most Notorious Local Crime: Killed Jennifer Grimes, 14, in a 2001 drive-by as she sat on a curb in New Cassel next to a man who MS-13 members mistakenly thought was a member of the Bloods.
MURDER UNIT
History: Began in Greenport in 2000 by a group of four so-called "forefathers."
Based: Third Street, Greenport
Most Notorious
Local Crime: Members used automatic weapons during a wild shootout with rival drug dealers near a local playground in 2003.
SOURCE: Staff reporting
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc. | Article licensing and reprint options
Re: 30 Arrested In Long Island Gang Sweep
good info there are a lot of crips in amityville and copiague too