Posted on 10/23/2008 6:10:46 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO -- Federal authorities in San Francisco unveiled an indictment today against 29 people allegedly tied to a street gang, accusing the group of engaging in murder, drug trafficking, witness tampering, car theft and extortion.
Those indicted include alleged senior leaders in the San Francisco faction of the Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13 gang, which originated in Los Angeles, has ties to El Salvador and is renowned for its savage tactics, federal prosecutors said.
Most recently, authorities say, members of San Francisco's 20th Street clique of the gang have been tied to at least five slayings in the city, including the June 22 killings in the Excelsior district of Tony Bologna, 48, and his sons Michael, 20, and Matthew, 16. Police say the killer was trying to avenge a gang shooting from earlier in the day and mistook the Bolognas for rivals.
An alleged MS-13 member, Edwin Ramos, has been charged with three counts of murder and has pleaded not guilty.
The indictment also ties members of the gang to two other San Francisco slayings, the July 31 stabbing death of 14-year-old Ivan Miranda during a robbery in the Excelsior involving an iPod, and the July 11 shooting of Armando Estrada, 30, of Rodeo, at 20th and Mission streets, officials said. Guillermo Herrera, 20, was identified in the federal indictment as the gunman in that killing which occurred on what the gang claimed as home turf.
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U.S. Attorney Joseph Russoniello, who alternatively referred to the suspects as "this group of hoodlums" and "this group of thugs," hailed the arrests as a "major takedown" of gang members during a press conference where he was joined by San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris and Police Chief Heather Fong.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
a 3-year sting operation was used to reel in the MiScreants..
Silly willing workers.
A sanctuary city was the genesis of this gang.
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