City attorney seeking monetary damages from gang leaders

The Los Angeles city attorney’s office filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit today seeking monetary damages from individual leaders of the city’s largest gang, with proceeds going directly to neighborhoods that their crimes affected.

“Today, we’re sending a message to gang leaders across this city: If you break the law, we will not only find you, arrest you, and put you behind bars; we will also take away your money, your property, your homes, and your cars. And for the first time ever, we will return that money to the communities you have brutalized,” said City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo of lawsuits filed against 18th Street gang leaders. “As the gangs who terrorize our neighborhoods evolve, so too must we adapt our laws and our tactics to fit the times.”

The lawsuit seeks to recover money damages for all property damage, loss in property value, emotional distress, personal injury, medical expenses, and out-of-pocket expenses. It also takes into account lost time in which residents could not use public parks because of gang activity.

The lawsuit targets nine leaders of the 18th Street Gang: Sergio Pantoja, Frank Martinez, Araceli Bravo, Michael Pineda, Jose Juan Alvarez, Noe Chavez, Efrain Ruiz Torres, Jose Morales Perez and Ruben “Nite Owl” Castro.

Castro, 46, is a leader of the Mexican Mafia prison gang who authorities say controls the two cliques of the 18th Street gang -- the Shatto Park Locos and the Hoover Locos. Castro allegedly ran those gangs from a Colorado federal maximum security prison, where he is serving multiple life terms.

He was sentenced last month to 27 years and three months in prison for running criminal operations in the MacArthur Park area, including allegedly "taxing" area drug dealers, fruit and ice cream vendors and even people who played chess on park tables.

Bruce Riordan, the city attorney’s gang prosecutor and a former federal prosecutor, said the lawsuit goes after a vital ingredient in the gang’s chemistry: money.

--Richard Winton

Photo: Los Angeles Times file

Correction: A previous version of this story spelled Araceli Bravo's last name as Aravo.

Comments

[AVRIL]

IT'S ABOUT TIME. NOW LET'S IMPLEMENT THIS TACTIC IN ALL GANG INFESTED NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU MR. DELGADILLO.

[Luci]

It is about time!

[Stuart]

If you had rats that kept you out of parks, ruined your fruit stand, or bothered you while playing chess, you would have them exterminated. That is what needs to happen with these gangs. When the troops are done in Iraw and Afghanistan, they can start on the West Coast and work their way to the East Coast exterminating these vermin. That will make America safer and in a more tangible way to the average citizen or illegal immigrant.

[juanpabla]

If they're Illegal, bill Mexico

[Tor]

so, uh why are the gang bangers in jail denied contact w/ their minions on the streets?

[Enlightenment]

Gang thugs are nothing more than losers than run in packs and don't want to get a real job. If they want to play with guns, then send them to Iraq.

[luis]

I don't agree with some of the comments that people have stated. For example "If they're Illegal, bill Mexico" comments like this are uncall for. Now about what
The Los Angeles city attorney that filed the lawsuit, I think its not fair and that if they are going to Continue with the lawsuit, they should hold all gangmembers from any gang in los angeles california.

[Felipe]

I applaud Rocky D for aggressively going after marauding gangs. I know Rocky D is trying to make up for past errors but at least he making himself active. Hopefully Rocky D can work with Steve Cooley the county DA to expand this effort to seize all gang assets. But what if the gangs transfer ownership to family and friends? Go after the gangs and accomplices.

[adoptivefather]

Somebody explain to me why we can't exile the gang members under threat of imprisonment if they return to California. Let somebody else deal with the problem, preferably Washington DC.

[Oski]

juanpabla Why bill Mexico for undocumented immigrants? They could be from England, Vietnam, China, El Salvador, etc. Educate yourself before typing something that just shows your ignorance! Not all undocumented people come from Mexico - they are just the easy scapegoats.

[Figgins]

Luis,

Maybe Rocky D is going after the 18th Street thugs because he can prove the allegations. To prosecute all "gangmembers" statewide would not only be illegal (I think the 14th Amendment would prohibit it), but also politically impossible.

[jojo]

Between the corrupt anglos on wall street and the millions of service sucking illegals (mostly Mexicans -and their greedy u.s. employers-) , citizens of the u.s. have been crushed. I say deport them ALL to some "Libertarian" hell hole, then maybe we can start to pick up the pieces of this country.

[Harden]

juanpabla, gangs are a horrible menace to our local neighborhoods and unfortunately, these groups must be dealt with. However, your comment was completely off the mark (made even more blatent with a hispanic name such as yours). Not all illegal immigrants are from Mexico and it is incorrect for you to make such an assumption. Comments such as those only fuel racism and ignorance.

[Julio C. Barreda]

Another photo-op for Mr. Delgadillo, lots of pictures and tangible results.

[Chuck]

It is about time. These gangs are infectious contaminating school children with their vile and influencing them. I say, we should be tougher with these criminal vermin. They should not only pay with their property (accquired through theft), but they should also work to pay. Let's clean the United States. P.S. Mexico should deal with their criminals not us.

[giley1]

This is a great start. What is needed is a sweep of every neighborhood that harbors gangs. I do not live in LA but visit there frequently and it is sad how the city has degraded in some parts. Gangs are like cockroaches, this should not be tolerated.. They are leaches in society. Our society is partiallly responsible for popularazing the gang culture. Just take a look at the some the rap music and clothing worn by some of todays' youth and entertainers It has become fashionable to look and dress like a gang. Tatoos are also another moniker of gang style. The old saying if it walks, quacks and looks like a duck, it must be a duck.

[jk]

bravo!
every city should implement this.
tagging is the only crime where the perpetrators sign their names to the actions and "law enforcement" treats it as an unprosecutable "unsolved crime".

[Shuan]

I applaud Rocky Delgadillo for trying to do something but really giving gang members who are all ready locked up and never getting out more time is a waste of taxpayers money. Our Constitutional rights do not apply to illegal immigrants so why we keep them here after they doing a crime i don't understand. Our jails are over crowed with mostly hispanic immigrants amoung others,if we deport it would free up a lot money and space. Going after one gang at a time will never solve the problem

[Janet]

THANK YOU ROCKY AND BRUCE. TAKE THEM DOWN. This is the only way to rid these uneducated, violent criminals who terrorize neighborhoods. Why hasn't one Council Member said anything about this? LA politcans have ruined our city. Just drive around and see the filth and blight. Thanks to them we're beginning to look like Las Vegas thanks to the billboards. LA is satuated with illegal vendors taking over the city and council members DO NOTHING.
Now Rocky needs to go after irresponsible parents.

[Cathy O'Dell]

HATS OFF TO THE CITY ATTORNEY!

THANK YOU, ATTORNEY DELGADILLO FOR HELPING THESE AFFECTED NEIGHBORHOODS GET COMPENSATED BY THE "STREET MONSTERS" WHO MAKE THEIR LIVES A LIVING HELL.

[jorge]

1st of all i applaud rocky for trying to find the answers to this situation, but the answer is simple. treat these thugs like they want to be treated, give them harsher penalties and gangs will disappear on there own. for example an eye for an eye. you steal we cut your hand off. soon you'll see who the real cholos are. nobody who dares to stand alone.

[Monte Haun]

Rocky must have gone to a Mexican Law School. In America if the guy is breaking the Law, you bust him. Otherwise, leave him alone and mind your own GD business.

"“As the gangs who terrorize our neighborhoods evolve, so too must we adapt our laws and our tactics to fit the times.” That's called Fascism- go back to where you came from. You think you own them just because they are Minorities?

Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com

[Kim in LA]

This is very nice, and I hope it works to humble the top leaders of these gangs. Gangs and gang-violence have been around forever, and will probably be around forever. The musical West Side Story was written back in the 60's. Things have changed a lot since then, but gangs are still with us after all these years. Remember the movie "Gangs of New York" -- that story was set in 1860: 150 years ago and they had gangs already. But the point is, that suing the gang leaders is a new tactic, and it's worth trying. It won't get rid of the problem, but maybe it will make them SUFFER. That would make a lot of people feel better.

[jk]

coincidentally, this is what happens when law enforcement fails to take proper action:

He got me: court told of tagger's last words
4:00AM Tuesday Dec 09, 2008
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10547123

[Injury Lawyer]

So how do you squeeze money from people with no assets and no bank account? Maybe Rocky is deflecting the fact that he is under investigation himself by the feds?

[JT]

Yeah, that's really going to work. More words to lead all of you sheeple into believing that he's doing something constructive. Do you think these people have anything of value legally? And what makes any of you think you can find what they have that is illegal? This is another grandstand play to make you all feel like he's doing something constructive when what he's doing is wasting more of your money on something that will recover nothing. And all of you are lapping it up, like it's cold water on a hot day. No wonder the state of California is in such huge debt, with stupid actions like this.

[Efrain Rojas]

I am a naturalized US citizen (from Mexico) and I fully support what Delgadillo is doing to the gangs. Let us first acknowledge the prevalence of latin gang activity and take away every dime they extract from society until the appeal of gang culture is completely broken. They directly and visibly diminish quality of life for everyone. Next, we should crack down on Medical scams which unfortunately all too many doctors are willing to take part in. The Armenians are notorious for Medical fraud, if you wanna call a spade a spade-unfortunately, it is hard to tell the truth without stepping on someone's toes.

[Sam]

Gangs will not be removed from our streets. The oppressive, racist system in which we live, the widening gap of rich and poor, and the ignorant individuals in our society (judging by the comments posted above) are simply fuel for gangs to spread and rise. Think about the reasons why gangs are formed! Everybody sees this problem specific to a region, when the true issues are national and begin when we provide corrupt CEO's billions of dollars, rather than implementing gang prevention, or youth preparation programs, which have already saved so many kids, in the poorest parts of our country. Open your eyes and dont be blinded with prejudice. These gangs, which I highly dislike and disaprove, are simply the results of our broken system.

[Elizabeth]

I think that anyone who commits a VIOLENT crime in a group - not necessarily a gang - but this could include gangs - should have their jail/prison sentences multiplied by the number of people who committed the crime. This should include home invasion robberies especially against children, the elderly and disabled.

Call it "2 Do the Crime - Twice the Time".

[Ms Lopez]

Not sure how the city will try to collect, most gang members do not have any assets. It's the leaders or the main drug supplier that should be sued. Most of the customers for these offenders are your local city councilmen, doctors lawyers, housewives, etc... This is a vicious non-ending cycle, the drugs and crime activity will just move to another part of L.A. I lived it, I know what goes on in and outside of the disgusting operation.. Unfortunately this just a small piece of activity that will be put to a halt ONLY in the West L.A. district. Sorry to write about the truth, but it's reality.

[YORK BLVD GEES]

hahahahah STUPID NOODLE aS SOPAS HAHAHA HLxPVRK GVNG-1