Largest Federal Crackdown in L.A. History

Read the full article by Margaret Arnold, News Editor at the Arroyo Seco Journal, Northeast L.A.'s finest local newspaper.

GLASSELL PARK-At 4 a.m. on the morning of June 25, 2008, 500 members of Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies moved into the Drew Estara area of Glassell Park in a major crackdown on the Drew Street clique of the Avenues street gang, in the largest Federal gang takedown in recent L.A. history.

Twenty-eight defendants were taken into custody on criminal charges during the sweep. Four were arrested on immigration charges. An additional 26 defendants named in the indictment were already incarcerated. Authorities are still seeking an additional 16 defendants. Cars and cash were seized during the operation.

Seventy members and associates of the gang had been named in a 157-page Federal racketeering indictment, alledging a long string of drug crimes and violent actions. The gang is said to control drug trafficking activity-and by extension, life in general-in the Drew Estara neighborhood.

The drug crimes include the sale of crack cocaine and methamphetamine.

The violent crimes listed include murder, attacks against police officers, witness intimidation and extortion of local businesses.

LAPD Chief William Bratton promised that "this morning is just the beginning," that day at an afternoon press conference in the Los Angeles Federal Building.

The sweep was not the only anti-gang event of the day. Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo also filed nuisance abatement lawsuits against ten Drew-Estara properties. Nine of the properties are located right on Drew Street. One is located around the corner on Chapman. The suits target both the landlords of the properties and the gang members or associates who use them.

According to Delgadillo, the operation represents the largest scale use of property abatement actions against a street gang in the history of the City. The lawsuits seek to require security guards, security cameras, proper maintenance, tenant screening and eviction of anyone involved in narcotics activities.