Hawaiian Gardens gang named in racketeering indictment [Updated]

Federal authorities today unveiled a sweeping racketeering indictment accusing a southern Los Angeles County street gang of a litany of crimes, including killing a sheriff’s deputy and committing hate crimes against African Americans in order to rid them from their turf.

The indictment, along with several related ones, charges more than 100 members of the Varrio Hawaiian Gardens gang with murder, attempted murder, drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, extortion, kidnapping and witness intimidation. U.S. Atty. Thomas P. O'Brien, speaking at a news conference this morning, touted it as the “largest gang takedown in United States history.”

[Update at 12:20 p.m.: An earlier version of this post said the gang was named Varrios Hawaiian Gardens. The correct name is Varrio Hawaiian Gardens.]

The gang investigation began in 2005 after sheriff’s Deputy Jerry Ortiz was fatally shot while conducting an interview in Hawaiian Gardens, a gritty, largely Latino city east of the 605 Freeway and north of Long Beach.

The shooter was a Varrio Hawaiian Gardens gang member with devils' horns tattooed on his forehead. He has since been convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Authorities said the gang was formed in the 1950s or early '60s and today has more than 1,000 members spanning several generations, many of them with connection to the Mexican Mafia.

Although the gang started out with street robberies, drug dealing and turf wars with other gangs, it has since escalated its level of violence, authorities allege. The gang is accused of particularly brazen acts, such as scrawling “187,” the California penal code designation for homicide, on a Sheriff's Department patrol car.

The indictment details several alleged attacks on African Americans, most of them shootings. In one incident, a gang member is accused of using a racial epithet against an African American, yelling at him to “get out of town” and then attacking him with a garden rake. The indictment says one gang member was heard bragging about the slaying of Deputy Ortiz, saying the killing of a cop had put the gang “back on the map.”

The gang members, with monikers such as “Slasher, Shady, Diablo and Menace,” boasted about being racist, referring to themselves as “The Hate Gang,” according to 193-page indictment that outlines the racketeering case. “VHG gang members have expressed a desire to rid the city of Hawaiian Gardens of all African Americans and have engaged in a systematic effort to achieve that result by perpetrating crimes" against them, the document states.

The indictment details 476 “overt acts” that prosecutors say gang members committed as part of the alleged racketeering conspiracy between 1996 and 2009. The alleged crimes include the dealing of methamphetamine, heroin and crack, and the slaying of a fellow gang member suspected of cooperating with law enforcement.

-- Scott Glover

Comments

[Bobby]

Latino- Black crime has been present in South Central for decades. The only differnce is that Latinos do not speak out agianst crimes partly becasue of langauge issues and lack of advocates. Also, immigration fears to some extent. No news, this is one sided news.

[todd]

This is too bad!!

[Nick]

Use this scum for compost.

[Charles Lino]

This is a joke. About a 2 weeks ago, a group of blacks shot at a group of Hispanics at a taco stand, but the crime was not considered a hate crime because the shooters were black. There have been reports in CA of blacks going on "Amigo Shopping" and killing and robbing Latinos of their money. Gangbangers have been evenly killing each other.

There have been many instances of black killings Hispanics, but these attacks are not classified as biased crimes. Attacks on immigrants have been happening all over the country. I've lived in many areas of the country and there has been a similar pattern present:

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- Authorities are questioning a man and a woman they believe stabbed four out of five people they robbed or attempted to rob across Charlotte on Friday.

Three of the victims are ice cream cart operators.

The alleged crime spree began just before noon in northeast Charlotte and continued through east and south Charlotte until the couple’s car was stopped at the intersection of Idlewild Road and Independence Boulevard in east Charlotte shortly after 2 p.m.

Police said the two black suspects were likely about to hit another apartment complex. Nearby neighbors were relieved.

==========

ROBERT K. GORDON
News staff writer

Hispanic immigrants who enter the American job market are often targets for criminals because they carry large amounts of cash and are less inclined to put their money in a bank or go to the police, law enforcement officials say.

Hispanics are often robbed on the weekends after they've been paid, Jefferson County Sheriff's Sgt. Randy Christian said.

Sheriff's investigators say most of the robbery victims in Lipscomb and Brighton - both majority black cities - are now Hispanic, rather than black. Recent incidents bear that out. Sergio Romero Cuevas, 26, died March 1 at UAB Hospital after he was shot during a robbery at Holiday Mobile Home Park in Brighton.

A Hispanic woman was shot in February during a home invasion while she was cooking at Woodward Estates trailer park in Lipscomb. The woman, who was released from the hospital soon after the shooting, was able to throw hot grease on the assailant. Investigators say the perpetrators were black.

"It seems the bad guys believe that the Hispanics are easy targets. Many of them do not have bank accounts so there is always a good chance they have cash on hand," Christian said.

"The thugs also rely on the fact that many of the Hispanics are here illegally and will not report being a crime victim. Those two things I believe are making them sitting ducks for these criminals."

==========

Hispanics have become the prey of choice in crumbling neighborhoods here in one of America’s most crime-ridden cities, racial friction between the newcomers and longtime black residents has moved close to the surface.

Many bluntly assigned a racial component, saying that it was “los morenos”— their colloquial term for blacks — who were after them.“When we are leaving here after work, we have to go on foot,” Mr. Billado said, speaking through an interpreter.“The blacks are waiting for us. They’ll beat you up. They’ll take your money.”

Roger Cruz, from Honduras, said:“A lot of people don’t know how to defend themselves. There’s racism of blacks against Latinos.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/16/us/16hispan...

[inland empire native]

this really isnt about race..the government was looking for a way to hit this gang after they killed Deputy Ortiz....once a gang kills a law enforcement official, its on..here comes the rackeetering indicment....remember Vineland Boys

[Alext Tan]

Where are all the Latino political leaders? Blacks have been killing immigrants and nobody raises their voice. Latinos should counter-sue for violation of civil rights.

[Sean K]

The people posting on here whining that "blacks kill latinos too" aren't getting the point. Those are isolated incidents in which the black gang members would have committed the crimes regardless of what race their victim was. Unlike the latino gangs, they don't make a point of targeting a specific race with the intent of widespread intimidation and 'getting them out of their city'. If Hispanic immigrants are being targeted, it's probably not so much a hate crime as a crime of convenience, since everyone knows they won't report it. I used to know a bunch of mexican thugs who were born here in America who used to rob immigrants for the same reason. Personally I'm sick of Latinos rallying around each other, even when the ones being criticized are violent murderers with a racist agenda.

[JD]

Why should it take the shooting of a deputy for a gang crackdown?

[MDR]

Your right this indeed had to do with the death of a Sheriff deputy. This was just one incident of many that showed how the city government throughout the past couple of decades refused to address the gang problem in their city. The gangmembers relatives are all indirect members of the city politics or local businesses. Do you really think they want to lock up their own kids, grandkids, newphews? Everyone that knows anything about gangs, will clearly explain it to you - among the Mexican Mafia founding fathers were members of HG. We, the people of Hawaiian Gardens needed this - its about time. Thank you

[Avril]

Charles Lino, your an idiot. The bottom line is that mexicans have to realize that they are not the only race of people in existence. The sooner they understand this, the better. People can and should work to improve their race, but not to the detriment of another's. Irregardless, African-Americans are resilient people and we don't allow other races to bully or intimidate us. Nice try.....

[LJ]

All gangsters think they are so tough, but they are all basically cowards who can't do anything without their guns, pit bulls, and backup.

[John W. Horton III]

Racial crimes are unacceptable no matter who has committed them.
The problem in the Latin community is leadership. Where are the Latin leaders in their communities educating their people about racism?
When ever there is a racial issue in Los Angeles African-American leaders are vocal and visible.
Also, this is about ignorance because if you understand what a Latino is then you'll know that their are three influences on Latin culture, European, African and Native American (indigena). If you are a Latino, you are more or less of these three racial groups.
So, African-Americans and Latino's have more in common than they have differences but we focus on the differences.
If you look at Latin television you will find a lot of people running away from their racial identity, with fake blond hair and bleached skin. They act Afro-centric when it is convenient.
Latin's should protest against the governments from which they came, who do not support them. It's easy to protest against the U.S., you can do that here! Latin American countries can't take care of their people. White skin does not make you "White," in the U.S. , you're "White," in the U.S. if you are European!
Lastly, Latin American studies should be a part of the U.S. educational curriculum, which is explains why many African-Americans are ignorant about Latin culture.
Peace!

[Sal]

I can guarantee you that the majority of this thugs are illegal aliens. The defenders of illegal immigration alway defend these people as hard working mexicans that are just trying to earn a living. At a time when California is broke we are spending billions to aprehend, jail, and feed these scum. Lets send them to Mexico asap and protect our borders so they don't come back.

[windu]

It's a crying shame this took so long. I remember hearing as long ago as 1991-94 about this gang targeting blacks in Hawaiian Gardens. You can probably find the story in the LA Times archives. The police didn't care until one of their own was killed. I guess the lives of average citizens don't matter. Over 15 years those black people have been living in terror of this gang.

[fatso]

Talking about the pot calling the kettle black! I have seen and been victim of innocent racial violence at the hand of Hispanics, been standing next to them and hear the most appalling things in spanish they have said about blacks, so by no means is this a passive, loving every race group. Remember, even if California was Mexico before, there were blacks in those neighborhoods before the influx of Hispanics in the 90's. Who signed Mexico over to the United States? Also, racism is taught, you are not born with it. The majority of Hispanics come from Mexico with pre-existing racism from Mexico because of a family member. That is not to say all Latinos are like this, as surely I have met some racist blacks that are more racist than most white people, but I have Latino friends that confirm this. So don't take this as one-sided, but there needs to be dialogue with people that want to do something about it, and I mean thinking people.

[NT]

Amazing how all kinds of gang defenders showed up all of a sudden. This has nothing to do with being Latino or being black. Who cares about whether blacks killed Latinos before, and whether Latinos killed blacks before that? This is about being filthy gang members. Each and every gang member in LA should be taken through a Guantanamo experience. They're all guilty until proven innocent - which they are not. Napalm the cockroaches out of every nook and cranny.

[Charles Lino]

Avril, you're an uneducated moron. Blacks are one of the most racist groups in the country. Don't attempt to play the race card here and claim to be the victim, because you won't succeed. I've lived in South Central, and I know how blacks operate. In the East Coast, blacks have also been attacking Latinos based on their ethnicity. Funny how blacks justify these racist acts by saying these violent crimes a matter of "convenience." Right...

Here's another murder of a Latino, a crime of "convenience" committed by blacks:

The police on Wednesday arrested a black man in the December killing of an Ecuadorean immigrant who was beaten with a bottle and a baseball bat in Brooklyn by men who yelled anti-gay and anti-Hispanic slurs at him.

“The sad part of this case for me is that these two brothers were apparently caressing each other because they were cold on the way home and the cretins that were charged with the attack mistook them for gay people,” Charles J. Hynes, the Brooklyn district attorney, said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/26/nyregion/26arrest.html

[Banderman]

Racism is a two-way street, and I, for one, am tired of the story always being told that Blacks are always the 'victims' and everyone else is always the 'racist'. Get real; no ethnic group is so wonderful that not at least ONE of their own are racists. Many more, no doubt, but we'll never hear the truth told or the truth revealed - the truth is the enemy. Blacks spew racially insensitive garbage publicly every day of the week and offensive remarks. Jamie Foxx recently called some female actress a 'white bi**ch' and it was played off and he was not held accountable for his offensive remarks (as if he is entitled to make racial remarks). I wouldn't go see him or his movies if they gave me free tickets. The racial hypocrisy raging in this country is pathetic and intelligent people are not falling for it.

[Mr O]

If you even look like a "cholo" you should be thrown in jail.. because just looking like one is the start. They are the scum of the earth! the problem is not leadership.. the problem is the parents and the hands off approach.. Stop sending your kids to learn morals and values.. not to mention the free lunch!!!!!
GREAT JOB LACS!!
It's no secret that Hispanic, Latino .. (what ever) Cholos are very racist and anyone that thinks differently are living in a bubble!!

RIP Jerry Ortiz!!!!

[MAYTE]

The truth is that gang menbers are all scums regardless their race. Gangs are the main source of all types of crimes and the goverment in all levels have spend enough resources trying to eradicate them but have been unsuscessful because they are outnumber by all this pieces of crop

[Wrong Wrong]

I was in Hawaiian Gardens and saw a article about Gangs killing Blacks who are not in Gangs... I saw a local TV news show showing Mexican Gangs openly saying to kill Blacks... They didn't say crip or Bloods they said Blacks. This is HATE HATE.. I never see Blacks saying kill hispancis or Latino.. Most Latinos are Black or have some Black heritage.. So Mexicans are not Latinos.... Get that straight. Cuba, Puerto Rico, and so on all respect their Blackness.. This is a Gang punk problem... Stop saying Blacks like all blacks...

[Wrong Wrong]

Non-White Hispanics have the bigger issue... Take a look at the people who are trying to work here... They have dark skin Black hair.. Take a look at the Punk Gang members who are running the Mafia... White Hispanics... Spaniards... Check your history... Mexicans have exploited native people of these lands for decades... Spainish is not the native Mexican Language.. Mexican is not even the real name... Do some research and see why these cowards have no soul... Now they are Slaves to the very land they claim to protect.... Stupid losers...

[James]

The media has always had great interest in the issues that affect African Americans. What about the thousands of crimes committed against Latinos in South LA, Watts, Compton, and Long Beach from the 60s to the late 80s? Who got prosecuted for those crimes that were directed on Hispanics? What about caucasians in the Inland Empire that have been driven into hate groups as a result of the violence directed to them by blacks?
Time and time again, the media spreads the idea that African Americans are naturally not racist. Every race and nationality has someone who is racist. It is time to not prosecute every hate crime from both sides!

[RM]

Alext Tan wrote:
"Where are all the Latino political leaders? Blacks have been killing immigrants and nobody raises their voice. Latinos should counter-sue for violation of civil rights."

Really? Then maybe the United States should sue Mexico for their citizens who constantly violate of our federal laws by entering our country illegally, abuse our welfare system, clog up our prisons and ruin our medical and educational systems in border states.

With all the laws that illegal immigrants break in the USA, I would suggest they shut up about their rights. They get far too many benefits and leniency already.

It would be great if someone's allegiance in this state was to this country and not south of the border.

[brettstrodamus]

To quote Colonel Kurtz, "Exterminate the brutes".