News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 04, 2011
Contact: SA Sarah Pullen Public Information Officer
Number: 213-621-6827

Second South L.A. Gang Leader Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Federal Prison for Distributing PCP

FEB 04 - (LOS ANGELES) The leader of a South Los Angeles street gang, who was convicted of organizing and leading a wide-ranging conspiracy to manufacture and distribute large quantities of the drug phencyclidine – better known as PCP – was sentenced today to life without parole in federal prison.

Alphonso Eugene Foster, 41, a leader of the Grape Street Crips street gang, was sentenced this morning by United States District Judge S. James Otero. Prior to his conviction in this case, Foster had sustained numerous felony convictions related to drug trafficking and robbery.

Foster is the second defendant to receive a life sentence as the result of a long-term investigation into the drug-trafficking activities of the Grape Street Crips. On November 8, 2010, Judge Otero sentenced Kim Vernell Walker, 47, a leader of the Santana Block Crips street gang, to life in federal prison for being one of the leaders of the PCP-distribution conspiracy. Walker also had numerous prior convictions for felonies related to drug-trafficking, including PCP.

In March 2010, a federal jury convicted Foster and Walker of several felony offenses related to their conspiracy to manufacture and distribute PCP, including the possession of various precursor chemicals made to use the dangerous drug. As part of the conspiracy, Foster, Walker and others produced hundreds of gallons of PCP at various locations in South Los Angeles and San Bernardino County, including a residence in Landers that Walker had purchased through a straw buyer solely for the purpose of manufacturing PCP. In March 2007, authorities seized Foster and Walker's clandestine PCP laboratory in Landers, where defendants were in the midst of an ongoing PCP “cookâ€