Thread: UT: Feds&local law take proactive approach to gang cont

Feds and local police take proactive approach to gang control
Reported by: Angie Larsen
Last Update: 7/15 10:10 pm

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Local and federal law enforcement agencies say they are fed up with gang crime here in Utah. They are launching "Operation Community Shield" and taking a new, proactive approach by targeting foreign nationals in the U.S. illegally and involved in gang activities.

Crimes committed by Utah gangs include: murder, fraud, domestic violence, graffiti and drugs.

"While we are tired and frustrated and upset about gang violence, we are equally motivated to eradicate it and remove their threat from our communities," said United States Attorney Brett Tolman.

One of the threats that this partnership of law enforcement is actively removing is illegal immigrants who are involved with gangs.

"I.C.E. is putting transnational gang members on notice. Their violence and criminal activity will not be tolerated in Utah," said Jonathan Lines, Asst. Spec. Agent in charge of I.C.E.

Last month, 50 Mexican nationals involved in gang activity were arrested in Utah County and Ogden as part of Operation Community Shield.

"Our task now is to make these charges stick so that these people will learn that they can't come into the community and commit crimes," said Weber County District Attorney Mark Caria.

Many of the arrested gang members will be deported, either now or after their prison sentences are served. If they come back, then they'll face even more prison time when they are found.

"We have taken a large chunk, I believe, out of future Utah County crimes by removing people that are the source of a great number, disproportional of the crimes committed in our county," said Utah County District Attorney Jeff Buhman.

The majority of the gang members arrested have membership or association with Sureños 13, but other gangs were also targeted.

"Utah is the leader in the nation in how serious they take this illegal re-entry and deportation and prosecute them. Many of these individuals had simply made a mockery of our immigration laws. They've been previously convicted of other violations and deported and are using our borders as a revolving door," said Lines.

Nine of the fifty people arrested have been deported before and face new charges for illegal re-entry. This is just the first wave of Operation Community Shield. It will soon be integrated into other Utah communities.
http://www.abc4.com/news/local/story.as ... 5cd10a8e80

Fed crackdown on Utah gangs nets 50 arrests
By Geoffrey Fattah
Deseret News
Published: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 12:04 a.m. MDT
32 comments RELATED CONTENT | E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - Operation FALCON nets thousands of fugitives
U.S. Attorney for Utah Brett Tolman said Utahns are sick of gang violence, and federal officials are stepping in to help.
"We are tired, frustrated and upset about gang problems," Tolman said during a press conference Tuesday. "These are all violent gangs, and we want them out of our communities."

Federal and state law-enforcement officials gathered to announce a massive roundup of gang members who are in the country illegally. Over the past two months, officials say Operation Community Shield resulted in the arrests of about 50 Mexican nationals involved in gang activity in Utah County and in Ogden.

The arrests include members and associates of Surenos-13, 18th Street, Southside 31st Street and Nortenos. Several of the local gangs are affiliated with well-known, California-based gangs.

The announcement comes after the fatal shooting of a 7-year-old Glendale girl in a gang-related, drive-by shooting and the capture of another gang member in Mexico who is accused of fatally shooting the owner of a Salt Lake hair salon in 2007.

Of the 24 gang members picked up in Ogden, nine have been referred for federal prosecution, and 12 face charges in state court. At least three will be charged with illegally re-entering the country.


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Some 26 foreign nationals were arrested in Utah County. Six have been indicted by a federal grand jury for re-entering the country, and 14 others face prosecution by state officials in Utah County.
Tolman said the remaining people arrested will be charged with illegal entry and processed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for deportation.

"This is just the first installment," Tolman said. "There will be more."

He expected similar operations to take place in Salt Lake County and other parts of the state.

Weber County Attorney Mark DeCaria said he was grateful for the federal government's efforts in dealing with illegal immigrants who are gang members. DeCaria said this particular segment of the population is to blame for a lot of crimes involving drugs and guns. Citing recent racketeering prosecution of several local violent gangs, Tolman said his office also has the option to go after these gangs as criminal organizations.



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