The United States Attorney's Office

TWO OPERATIONS INVOLVING ATF AND LAPD TARGET CRIPS AND BLOODS GANG MEMBERS WHO DISTRIBUTED NARCOTICS AND FIREARMS ACROSS SOUTH LOS ANGELES AND BALDWIN VILLAGE

Federal and local law enforcement authorities today announced two successful gang takedowns – one that targeted two factions of the Bloods in the Baldwin Village neighborhood and one that targeted members of various Crips factions for illegally selling scores of firearms across South Los Angeles -- that have resulted in the arrest of 38 gang members and associates over the past two days.

Both investigations are the result of collaborative efforts by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Los Angeles Police Department. Both operations are responses to an increase in violent crime involving street gangs, and represent the latest joint federal-local law enforcement actions against street gangs in the Los Angeles area.

The announcement of the two operations was made at a press conference this afternoon by United States Attorney Thomas P. O’Brien, ATF Special Agent in Charge John Torres, LAPD Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Richard Doyle and Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo.

The first operation targeted firearms and illegal narcotics trafficking by members and associates of the Black P-Stone Bloods and the Rollin’ 20s gangs in and around the Baldwin Village area of Los Angeles. Yesterday, after an eight-month investigation, federal agent and local officers arrested 25 defendants on various federal, state and immigration offenses. During the operation, investigators seized two firearms, narcotics and currency.

Today, ATF and LAPD fanned out across South Los Angeles, arresting 13 individuals, most of whom face federal charges.

In late 2005, ATF initiated an investigation into firearms and narcotics sales South Los Angeles. During the course of this investigation, ATF identified several members and associates of various street gangs -- including the 58 Neighborhood Crips, the 57 Neighborhood Crips, the 89th East Coast Crips, the Broadway Gangster Crips, the Maniac Gangster Crips, the Rollin' 90s Crips and the Fruit Town Brims -- who were selling firearms and narcotics.  During this investigation, there were numerous undercover purchases of firearms and narcotics.

"During the investigation, an undercover operative bought assault rifles like AK-47s and M-16s -- weapons of war that have no place in the hands of criminal gangsters," said United States Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien. "We saw just last night, when an 8-year-old girl was the victim of an apparent stray bullet from a gang shooting, the horror that weapons such as these can inflict on innocent bystanders. The 119 firearms we have removed from the streets are 119 firearms that will not result in another child being shot, that will not be used to  terrorize neighborhoods, and that will not result in gang members outgunning the police tasked with patrolling these neighborhoods."

In one case stemming from the firearms Investigation, Troy Conrad McKay, aka "T-mack," was arrested this morning on federal charges of conspiracy to sell firearms without a license, including AK-47s. and Tec-9s. Additionally McKay was charged with dealing firearms without a license, four counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and distribution of crack cocaine. McKay, if convicted of these charges, faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the narcotics count and up to 10 years in prison for each of the four felon-in-possession charges.

Also arrested today was Tyrone James Jemison, who allegedly sold "ecstasy" and approximately 17 firearms to ATF informants. The weapons allegedly included AK-47s, Tec-9s, Uzis and other assault weapons. Jemison is charged with Engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, distribution of ecstasy, and felon in possession of a firearm. Jemison is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for distributing ecstasy and up to 10 years imprisonment for both dealing in firearms without a license and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

“ATF, the violent crime police, will continue to have a presence wherever gangsters have a presence,” said John A. Torres, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Los Angeles Field Division. “We believe that every gun taken off the street brings us one step closer to preventing unnecessary loss of life caused by violence. ATF values the cooperation we have with our local law enforcement partners and will continue to work closely with them to achieve our goals.”

The defendants arrested on federal charges in the takedown this morning are expected to make their initial court appearances this afternoon in United States District Court.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Both the Baldwin Village cases and the gun-sales cases are the result of investigations by the ATF and the LAPD.

Yesterday’s takedown in Baldwin Village was conducted by the Baldwin Village Task Force, which consists of ATF, LAPD’s Southwest Division, the United States Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.

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