Posted on 01/10/2004 12:22:19 PM PST by archy
Ring linked to 200 heists
Robbers preyed on Hispanics
By Bill Dries
Contact
January 10, 2004
Memphis police have charged six people with taking part in a series of violent home invasion robberies last year - perhaps as many as 200 - that targeted Hispanic citizens, many in Memphis apartment complexes.
Investigators said Friday that the gang-based ring robbed victims in Memphis, Jackson, Tenn., and North Mississippi of money and anything else they could carry.
"This is the biggest single criminal enterprise Memphis has seen in a long time," said police robbery bureau supervisor Lt. Darren M. Goods.
Corry Lee Fulford and Preston Woodruff were charged Dec. 30 in Memphis warrants with aggravated robbery. Fulford, 23, was arrested on New Year's Day in El Paso, Texas. Woodruff, 23, was arrested Tuesday in Pontiac, Mich.
Since Woodruff's arrest, police have charged four other suspects with aggravated robbery. They were identified as Calvin L. Mitchell, 23, who was arrested by Southaven police; his twin brother, Kevin Earl Mitchell of 255 Modder; Bryan D. Blocker, 24; and Shaun Faulkner, 25, of 4163 Old Bailey Court.
"There could be as many as a dozen people . . . charged in these crimes," said police Lt. Jeff Clark of Project Safe Neighborhoods. The joint local and federal firearms unit is one of the numerous agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, working with Memphis police on the case.
"All of them are Gangster Disciples. All of them have known each for most of their lives. They were all 'blessed' into the Gangster Disciples by the same person," Clark said, describing a method of gang initiation that involves an endorsement from a high ranking gang official.
Goods said the robbers "would pick out a certain apartment complex . . . with a high population of Hispanic citizens and then they would watch it.''
''They would determine about what time they would get home on the weekends. They would pick the optimum time for them to strike. Usually that was in the wee hours of the morning."
The robbers would kick in the apartment door and sometimes pistol-whip victims and occasionally fire shots.
Clark said the robbers reacted to police surveillance of some apartments by switching to early-morning hours when their victims were leaving for work. The suspects referred to the technique as "freestyle."
"Just pick anybody in the streets," Goods said, describing the change in tactics.
"They were taking money, televisions, PlayStations, jewelry, toys. It's real unusual for robbers to take household appliances," Clark said.
Goods and Clark said all six suspects will face additional state charges for other robberies and because all are felons they could also face federal firearms charges.
Since the warrants were issued for Fulford and Woodruff on Dec. 30, Clark said, there have been no reports of Hispanic home invasion robberies in Memphis.
The investigation could last for several more months and target those who didn't participate in the robberies but may have helped in other ways, Clark said.
"If you helped them sell the merchandise . . . supplied cars to the robbers, you need to call us. We are going to be at your door sooner or later," Clark said.
Investigators also are seeking robbery victims who may not have reported the crimes, or may have moved since they reported being robbed. Anyone with information may call police at 545-3980.
"We are pretty sure this just scratches the surface," Goods said.
"If you're a robber, you're a robber. And we doubt very seriously that they were just targeting Hispanics," Clark said.
"We feel pretty strongly that every citizen of Memphis is now a lot safer because these people are off the streets."
- Bill Dries: 529-2643
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Exactly, better chance the "victims" won't call police when they're breaking the law themselves.
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