Huge sweeps target Latino gangs that allegedly attacked blacks

Federal authorities said they would announce today a huge sweep of Latino gang members allegedly responsible for violence against law enforcement and racially motivated attacks against blacks.

The announcement followed the arrests of dozens of suspected gang members during raids early this morning. A news release from the U.S. attorney's office called it the "largest gang takedown in United States history."

U.S. Atty. Thomas P. O'Brien, along with officials from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, is scheduled to speak at a news conference at 11 a.m. at the Lakewood sheriff's station. 

The indictment is the latest of several investigations that found gangs participating in race-based violence. Federal prosecutors two years ago charged members of a Latino gang with a violent campaign to drive blacks out of the unincorporated Florence-Firestone neighborhood that allegedly resulted in 20 homicides over several years.

In the Harbor Gateway district of L.A., police launched a crackdown last year on another Latino gang accused of targeting blacks, including 14-year-old Cheryl Green, whose death became a rallying point. In 2006, members of the Avenues, a Latino gang, were convicted in federal court for a series of assaults and killings in the early 1990s targeting blacks in Highland Park. 

-- Scott Glover

Photo: Weapons confiscated during this morning's raid. Credit: Richard Winton / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Sabrina]

Now this shows you how truly ignorant being in a gang is. If both the Latino and Black gangs got an education, they'd learn they're probably related to each other. Out of the original 44 Pobladores "Founders" ... HALF were either Black or of mixed race!

[KK]

Long overdue. Interest groups have been protecting these gangs for decades.

[Gary C.]

Why is there no outrage? Where is the mayor?

[thecanimalshusband]

This sounds conspicuously like racial profiling to me.

[thatguy]

This FILTH'S parents should have NEVER been allowed in this country. If they hadn't been we wouldn't have this problem!!!!

[Joe Sixpack]

Is it possible for the police to target black and latino gangs that target white people? It's almost as though criminals of color who prey on white people are protected, but mess with any other ethnic group and you're in hot water.

Can we please have more immigration now? This is working out so well.

[talegal]

LAPD - why bother? They don't get deported and we taxpayers have to support them. This is all for show.

[Preston]

This article must be wrong. Our very own Chief of Police and Mayor have said there are no racial motivation in the killings in Los Angeles. They blame it all on the gangs...somebody is lying here!!! Keep your head on a swivel my Brotha's!!!

[jojo]

"Out of the original 44 Pobladores "Founders" ... HALF were either Black or of mixed race"

where do latinos (or any other minority hate group) think they can get away with their overt "victim class" racism anymore?
short answer: They can't.

As to the arrests of these violent 3rd worlders. It's a good first step but something better than incarceration or deportation is needed. May i suggest parachute drops over Tierra Del Fuego without parachutes?

[IdiotProof]

Oh brother, the comment children are playing in traffic again. Just because they are Latino doesn't mean that they are illegal. It doesn't automatically mean they or their parents immigrated either. Get over yourselves and go hide in a gated community. Better yet, go back to Europe. If you're not 100% Indian, you're an immigrant. Gang problems belong to everyone. Once we cut all the school funding, there will be even more white gang members. What else are they going to do with no future and no job?

[Just my opinion...]

This racial violence comes from the Mexican mafia in the jail systems. They get out of jail and carry the same mentality on to others and the racial violence grows. I don't know why they don't make more effort to deport those here illegally. I was almost attacked by 7 illegal mexicans once. My car broke down in the wrong neighborhood. They told me they would take me to a near-by field and rape me and they would never get caught because they were illegal. They were so mad and I didn't know why. I had to lock myself in my car until Triple A came to get me. They were all surrounding my car and speaking Spanish and when the AAA guy got there, he was mexican and could understand them and was scared to tow my car... He just threw it on the tow truck and we peeled out and he hooked it up properly when we got around the corner. Something has to be done about this. I guess when my situation starts happening to the upper white community, something will be done about it.

[USMC]

It's a great day in Los Angeles. They need to get rid of all these thugs, black,white,mexcian. All of them!!!!

[LC]

To 'talegal",

Just because the gang is Latino DOES NOT automatically indicate they are illegal.

Are all Chinese Illegal?
Are all Afirican Americans illegal?

Many people ARE born in this country not just white people. It is because of Racist attitudes such as yours that good people have such a hard time.

[howardx]

sheriff chopper was over hawaiian gardens for hours this morning, probably for this deal. good.

[aaron]

As an Ameriican of mexican descent these latino gangs have been a an embarassment, im sure there are there are thousand who feel the same..i say lock em up. This is good news, and we will all benefit from their incarceration.

[Gary]

Just to clarify on some of the comments... There are black gangs, latino gangs, asian gangs, arian gangs, filipino gangs, etc etc etc. Gangs should be eliminated period. Anyone how does harm onto another should go to jail. Just realize some of these areas that they live in have very poor school systems in place regardless of race. Gangs have always been around since the begging of history starting from the europeans who first came here. Check your facts people.

[SAT]

Too bad they missed Tony V and his Mexican Mafia buddies Fabian andCedillo.

[Gustavo]

How can you assume that there all illegal immigrants...My uncles who came here in late 60's early 70"s from Mexico were picked on by black gangs and harassed because they were the minority now that the numbers have changed its the other way around..not saying it's right but it just the way it is and if you didn't grow up in gang infested areas you really don't understand that...just cause your Latino doesn't mean your an illegal immigrant!!!!

[Juan]

This is a joke. Black gangs have targeted latinos for decades. In south central black gangs fire bombed homes of latino families to keep them out of their neighborhoods. It was covered up by a black mayor. When will black gangs be held accountable?

[USABorn]

Villaraigosa has stated his objectives openly for years, but most U.S. citizens have not been listening. To view his objectives, do a search on the words California Reconquista and California Reconquista Antonio Villaraigosa.

[PAUL OLIVAS]

It's the media and the government causing all the trouble, trying to make other race's fight with each other so they can always stay in power. the truth!!!

[Jack Boward]

Dear Mr. President.

May you please create a violent illegal immigrations law to get rid of this countries violent gangs and illegal criminals. Bring home the troops and employ them as Government Civilians to patrol the most gang and crime infested areas in this country. In Humvees, full military gear, and heavily armed for battle. The most violent gang members and criminals should be deported, and should be sentenced to a swift death if they return to the U.S. Gang members and hardcore criminals from the U.S should be transferred to out-of-state prisons to serve sentences, so their time won't be just another "Homeboy Reunion behind bars." Blacks have survived: The Devil and Devilette, Slavery, Jim and Jane Crow, Human, and civil rights violations, present day discrimination, and now evil immigrants. This should not be happening in this day and time in America, Again. Mr. President, please help purge the wicked. So the rest of us can focus on our dreams and help this world change for the better.

[MUTT]

The History Channel show "Gangland" does not discriminate on telling the truth. Blacks representing the Crips are incorporating in other cities to push drugs and guns and recruit. The Avenues are a ruthless bunch of assasins. L.A. has no more room for them. So how does one see justice in isolating the voilence with Latino Gangs targeting blacks. Stupid politics run by hysterical people in office.

[In Highland Park]

Yeah, this sounds a tad biased and profiled by the city. I think what they need to do is target the core reasons behind the gangs and the violence. (But this would mean actually providing real solutions for communities and families, etc. God forbid we actually use the funding for gang prevention to do this. /s) It's not just a race issue. It's a poverty and education issue. And yes, gangs target whomever gets in their way, no matter what ethnicity, even their own.

[Mario]

Come on folks this has been happening for years, the only people that dont know about it, are those that dont live in the communities that deal with it.

The mayor knows its going on, but like illegal immigration its all good as long as he stays in office. I am more surprised with the chief of police, who said its not happening. Lee Baca knew better and stayed clear of the bumbling fray.

Mayor, let this be notice, that while your running around defending the criminals, we have a new district attorney, not your puppet, that will look out for us on the streets, next the chief, and than mayor. Good luck on your governors attempt, blunders like this do not look well on your resume.