Video: Nearly 100 Arrested In Massive Gang Crackdown in Queens

By STEPHANIE BARISH (wpix.com)
April 16, 2010

More than 90 people were arrested Friday on murder, weapons, and drug charges as part of a large-scale investigation launched by the Queens District Attorney’s Office two years ago.

Among the individuals in police custody, include a former City Correction Officer and 45 alleged gang members with ties to the Crips and the Bloods.

In all, the suspects are accused of two homicides, numerous gang shootings and a plot to murder officers on foot patrol in Jamaica, Queens. In addition, more than 60 handguns were seized, along with more than five kilograms of cocaine, 567 decks of heroin, two pounds of marijuana and $50,000 in cash from drug sales.

“This investigation strikes at the heart of a highly unified and criminally active street gang that turned the seaside Queens neighborhood of Far Rockaway into a war zone and threatened the lives and safety of innocent bystanders and law enforcement officers,” said District Attorney Richard Brown.

The investigation, dubbed “Operation: Under Siege,” was launched in early 2008 focus and focused on alleged drug and gun trafficking network in Far Rockaway. During the course of the investigation, specific sets of the Crips street gang had joined forces with individual Bloods street gang members to create a larger unified gang – known as the Flocc gang – which rose to power in Far Rockaway and led to a surge of violent crime and bloodshed in the area, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.

The Flocc gang apparently funded their criminal enterprise — by selling dugs throughout Far Rockaway and South Jamaica, Queens.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly spoke about the massive takedown at a press conference Friday morning.

“The nexus between drugs and violence could not be clearer with at least two murders, 11 shootings and a home-invasion robbery linked to these ruthless narcotics traffickers. Detectives involved in this important case are to be commended for their outstanding work, as are the members of the District Attorney’s staff who supported them.”