| by Michael Webster: Investigative Reporter | | | | Among those arrested was Elbert Mullin, |
| June 30, 2008 11:00 A.M. PDT | | | | living in El Paso and Juarez, an alleged |
| | | | member of the ruthless Georgia Boys gang, |
| EL PASO/JUAREZ METRO-BORDERPLEX: Dangerous | | | | whom are connected to the Gangster Disciples, |
| gang members arrested along with over 200 | | | | U.S. Marshals Service supervisory deputy |
| others who were wanted for violent crimes in | | | | Gerry Payan said. |
| Operation Falcon 08. This massive effort was | | | | |
| lead by the U.S. Marshals Service intended to | | | | The Gangster Disciples, which was created in |
| catch people wanted on warrants for violent | | | | south Chicago in the 1960s, is one of the |
| crimes, sex offenses and other felonies. | | | | largest street gangs in the nation. The round |
| | | | up included a total of 12 suspected members |
| At the same time another massive law | | | | of various other El Paso gangs. |
| enforcement operation targeting violent | | | | |
| street gangs in Los Angeles was taking place. | | | | The Georgia Boys have been linked to El |
| Seventy members and associates of the Drew | | | | Paso's Barrio Azteca Gang One Of The |
| Street clique of the Avenues street gang have | | | | Most Dangerous In Nation, MS-13 and other |
| been named in a federal racketeering | | | | U.S. and Mexican gangs and are believed to |
| indictment. The leadership of the Drew Street | | | | have penetrated the U.S. Army and become |
| gang - notably "shot-caller" Francisco | | | | soldiers at Fort Bliss, according to a U.S. |
| "Pancho" Real, who is the lead defendant in | | | | Army Criminal Investigation Command report in |
| the indictment - collects "taxes" from those | | | | 2006 about gang activity in the military. |
| who sell narcotics in the neighborhood, | | | | |
| according to the indictment. A portion of the | | | | The Army investigation reported that in 2006, |
| taxes is then paid by gang leaders to the | | | | four soldiers believed to be associated with |
| Mexican Mafia. Drew Street gang members also | | | | the Georgia Boys assaulted and robbed two |
| raise funds for the Mexican Mafia by | | | | soldiers in a parking lot on post. The report |
| conducting armed home-invasion robberies and | | | | was said to be law enforcement sensitive. Two |
| collecting extortion payments from area | | | | of the soldiers in the robbery were |
| businesses. The Mexican Mafia allegedly | | | | court-martialed and found guilty. The other |
| authorized Francisco Real to take control of | | | | two were found guilty of violating Army |
| the Drew Street clique less than a year ago. | | | | regulations. Many government and other |
| | | | investigators believe there is gang members |
| Many of the U.S street gangs are believed | | | | in the army and some who are active in El |
| acting as enforcers for the Mexican drug | | | | Paso are stationed at Ft. Bliss and are |
| cartels and their Mexican gang surrogates. | | | | involved extensively in narcotics-trafficking |
| Federal law enforcement across America is | | | | activity, murders on both sides of the U.S. |
| clamping down on this type of national and | | | | Mexican border, and are operating with other |
| international organized crime activity | | | | gang members in El Paso and drug cartels and |
| perpetrated by these out of control street | | | | their gangs in Juarez Mexico. |
| gangs. The LA Rico case alleges extensive | | | | |
| narcotics-trafficking activity, murders, and | | | | Mullin, 28, was allegedly in possession of a |
| attempted murders of police, extortion and | | | | handgun when he was captured on two prior |
| witness tampering by these gang members. | | | | counts of unlawful possession of a firearm |
| | | | and other charges, Payan said. It is believed |
| U.S. Marshals Service officials said the | | | | that Mullin and other gang members on the |
| arrests in El Paso began in the pre-dawn | | | | border have ties to the U.S. and Mexican |
| hours to catch the wanted subjects off | | | | military. The El Paso Journal has been told |
| balance. The arrests were conducted by | | | | by a reliable source, which insists on |
| an 80 officer task force from various | | | | remaining nameless but has indicated that |
| federal, state and local agencies organized | | | | there is a federal task force operating both |
| into 10 teams. | | | | inside the military and out side |
| | | | investigating the relationship between the |
| "We measure success one fugitive at a time," | | | | U.S. armed forces and American and Mexican |
| LaFayette Collins, U.S. Marshal for the | | | | gangs. |
| Western District of Texas, said in a | | | | |
| statement. "Any time we remove a sexual | | | | During the course of the L.A. investigation, |
| predator, gang member, or other violent | | | | authorities seized multiple firearms, |
| felon, that street, a neighborhood and a | | | | including 7 guns that were discovered during |
| community became a little safer." | | | | this morning's operation. Members of the Drew |
| | | | Street gang obtained guns from a number of |
| The El Paso times reported today that | | | | sources, one of whom was bringing firearms |
| "Operation Falcon," (which stands for Federal | | | | from Arizona, which they used in relation to |
| And Local Cops Organized Nationally), is an | | | | various crimes, according to the indictment. |
| effort that has taken place in different | | | | |
| cities throughout the United States in recent | | | | Sources: U.S. Marshals Service, Border |
| years but had not in El Paso since 2006. The | | | | Patrol, Health and Human Services Office of |
| effort included the work of El Paso police, | | | | the Inspector General, the FBI, DEA, Bureau |
| sheriff's deputies and several state and | | | | of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and |
| federal agencies. | | | | Explosives, U.S. Probation, Texas Department |
| | | | of Public Safety, Texas Alcoholic Beverage |
| "We participate in many initiatives and this | | | | Commission, Texas Office of the Inspector |
| is one of them," El Paso County Sheriff Jimmy | | | | General, El Paso County Sheriff's Office, El |
| Apodaca said. "We do this to make sure El | | | | Paso Police Department and El Paso County |
| Paso is a better and safer place to live by | | | | Constable Precinct 5. LAPD, CHP, L.A. County |
| going after people wanted on warrants." | | | | Sheriff's Office. |
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