Posted on 07/20/2004 7:31:14 AM PDT by The Other Harry
July 20, 2004
Attorney general adds Shenandoah Valley to list of gang hotspots
M-13 has not reached Augusta County yet, officials say
By BOB STUART
The News Virginian
A growing and dangerous Mexican gang has established footholds across Virginia, including the Shenandoah Valley, state Attorney General Jerry Kilgore said Monday.
Even though the so-called MS-13 does not have an Augusta County presence yet, area law officers say they are aware of the gang and its alleged recent activity in the northern part of the Valley.
The gang has been linked to a homicide and illegal drug activity in Shenandoah County, said the sheriff there, Tim Carter.
Augusta County Sheriff Randy Fisher said his officers keep a database of suspected local and actual gang members, including a gang called the Crips, which months ago had several members convicted of a fatal stabbing of a new member said to have been trying to leave the crew.
Fisher said while there are gangs in Augusta County, they are not creating any problems for law enforcement.
In Richmond on Monday, Kilgore offered a preliminary release of a report on state gang activity by the Virginia Gang Investigators Association.
The attorney general said MS-13’s greatest growth has been in Northern Virginia, with other activity in Tidewater, Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley.
The attorney general also noted the presence of other gangs across the state, including homegrown gangs.
"In one jurisdiction alone, it is estimated that there are 80 gangs present," Kilgore said. "And that is just one jurisdiction."
The gangs, he said, are responsible for drug and violent crimes, usually among rival members.
In Staunton, Police Chief Jim Williams said Monday his department has tracked "wannabe-type’’ gangs in that city and the surrounding area.
"There are a couple of local sets,’’ Williams said. "It seems like they are trying to get started. They are not committing any crimes."
"We don’t want to stick our heads in the sand," Williams said, "but we don’t want to press the panic button either."
Waynesboro Police Chief Doug Davis said he knows of no organized gang activity here.
But he said officers are watching for gang graffiti or people wearing gang colors or clothing.
Sheriff Fisher said his department is keeping a watchful eye on the northern part of the Shenandoah Valley, where MS-13 has been found.
Carter, the Shenandoah sheriff, told The News Virginian on Monday that members of MS-13 have been identified there, as have other Latino gangs, including one called Sureno 13. That gang has been tied to local drug trafficking.
"The gangs follow the Latino population here. We have a large poultry industry. And Latinos have moved into poultry and agriculture,’’ Carter said.
His department is working with gang investigators across the commonwealth through the Virginia Gang Investigators Association, he said.
"This is not an issue that an individual agency can address alone,’’ Carter said.
Kilgore created an anti-gang task force a year ago. It produced legislation that strengthened the state’s anti-gang laws.
Locally, police in Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County have forged a task force that includes corrections and probation officials. The task force regularly discusses information about gangs, Fisher said.
This is Vey Series!
Glorious Multiculturalism!
Shanty towns that rival Box City near tijuana are springing up!
These monsters have moved into and are polluting MY VALLEY? My precious Valley? How dare they! Anybody who soils that sanctuary, that enormous outdoor church, ought to be strung up.
Two officials say the gangs are not creating any problems or committing any crimes. How does the reporter come to the conclusion that they are?
I believe you mean tiajunna.
Would that include Wytheville? My dad worked there for a while and I thought it was magnificent.
?>> Two officials say the gangs are not creating any problems or committing any crimes. How does the reporter come to the conclusion that they are? <<
Are you defending this gang? Pull your head out of your ass and do some research. This is a dangerous gang.
http://www.antonnews.com/portwashingtonnews/1998/03/06/news/
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0304/132255.html
http://www.leesburgtoday.com/current.cfm?catid=6&newsid=9131
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25462-2004May13.html
http://www2.townonline.com/somerville/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=35507&format
http://ww3.komotv.com/global/story.asp?s=1916556&ClientType=Printable
http://www.wusatv9.com/printfullstory.aspx?storyid=30731
>Fisher said while there are gangs in Augusta County, they are not creating any problems for law enforcement.
Yet.
They might want to check the Atlanta region for MS-13 (the gang). I've seen more and more grafitti with the logo '13' featured prominently.
It's worse than you think. A gang led by roughnecks called Thomas Jackson and Dick Ewell run wild. Federal agents Nathaniel Banks and John C. Fremont tried to catch them, but were dissuaded by shots fired.
Another federal, called David ``Black Dave'' Hunter, has been rumored to have been assigned this gang case. We await further developments.
No. I was being sarcastic. Please reread the post.
>> No. I was being sarcastic <<
Oh. My bad. Please accept my apology.
Carolyn
Yep. That's the one.
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