Mother sentenced in Drew Street drug case
A matriarch of a family allegedly involved in the drug dealing and street violence of the notorious Drew Street branch of Glassell Park's Avenues gang was sentenced Thursday to 100 months in federal prison.
Maria “Chata” Leon, 45, an illegal immigrant and mother of 13, previously pleaded guilty to racketeering and drug conspiracy charges after her arrest last year in a crackdown led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the LAPD.
Dozens of defendants indicted along with Leon have also pleaded guilty, said Christopher Brunwin, the lead federal prosecutor in the case.
Operating from a Drew Street home, Leon, members of her family and associates for years controlled one of the most menacing drug bazaars in the city, despite law enforcement efforts to combat the gang, officials said. The so-called Satellite House, which drew its name from a huge black satellite dish that once stood in the driveway, was declared a public nuisance and demolished earlier this year.
The prosecutions “will give a lot of good people in that neighborhood an opportunity to live better,” Brunwin said. “Hopefully, a lot better.”
--Rich Connell
Why wasn't she deported? If she's an illegal immigrant, why doesn't her own country pay to support this lady in jail for 100 months?
Posted by: What a Shame | May 14, 2009 at 07:21 PM
Yet another example of why illegal immigrant criminals should be deported.
Posted by: Blithe | May 14, 2009 at 09:20 PM
100 months?? Is that all? After all the torment her and family caused in the neighborhood? She should have received more prison time and then seeing as she is here illegally, be deported after serving her time. Also any of her family members that are illegal.
Posted by: sam | May 15, 2009 at 12:16 AM
she was deported....and came back
Posted by: nunya | May 15, 2009 at 08:46 AM
They should DEPORT her AND her 13 kids! I'll bet she was on welfare as well. See what your taxes go to California?
Posted by: Dave | May 27, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Where did she get the money to deliver 13 kids, and feed and house them? From your taxes and from selling drugs to your children and neighbors. I'm afraid it is too late, the failed Mexican culture is so counter to American principles and is going to destroy our country just as it did in Mexico. It makes me sad and I have lost hope for our country. Pres. Clinton and Bush2 pandered to the Mexicans to get their vote and and now there are so many of them, a politician could never mention the problem, much less enforce our laws without being accused as racist and never be re-elected. It is bad here in Dallas and I am really concerned for California. What are you all going to do when the CA government runs out of money? Maybe the Mexican gangs can take over the CA government and throw all the Americans out of their homes.
Posted by: Matt | October 06, 2009 at 02:06 PM
Where did she get the money to deliver 13 kids, and feed and house them? From your taxes and from selling drugs to your children and neighbors. I'm afraid it is too late, the failed Mexican culture is so counter to American principles and is going to destroy our country just as it did in Mexico. It makes me sad and I have lost hope for our country. Pres. Clinton and Bush2 pandered to the Mexicans to get their vote and and now there are so many of them, a politician could never mention the problem, much less enforce our laws without being accused as racist and never be re-elected. It is bad here in Dallas and I am really concerned for California. What are you all going to do when the CA government runs out of money? Maybe the Mexican gangs can take over the CA government and throw all the Americans out of their homes.
Posted by: Matt | October 06, 2009 at 02:06 PM