Free Republic

Nine members and associates of a notorious east San Fernando Valley street gang that terrorized residents for more than a decade were found guilty Thursday of federal drug and racketeering charges - legal tools more commonly used to fight organized crime. In the first criminal trial brought against the Sun Valley-based Vineland Boys, who police say ran roughshod through parts of Burbank, North Hollywood and Palmdale, the jury deliberated seven days before reaching the verdicts that could land two of the defendants in prison for life. "This is the first time in Southern California that the RICO (Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt...

Federal prosecutors began their racketeering case Thursday against a street gang with testimony from a Burbank police officer who was badly wounded in a shootout that killed a fellow officer. Detective Gregory Campbell said he called for backup after smelling marijuana coming from a Cadillac Escalade in the parking lot of a motel. After Officer Matthew Pavelka arrived, the driver began firing at Campbell from five feet away, he testified. ``I recall yelling out, 'gun,''' said Campbell, who went down after being shot in the stomach and head. He didn't see what happened next but recalled hearing more than two...

Former Burbank City Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony count of possessing cocaine and one misdemeanor count of child endangerment, the District Attorney's Office announced. As part of a plea agreement, Murphy, 47, also will enter a drug-diversion program, attend drug counseling sessions and return to court for progress reports, said Deputy District Attorney Thomas Krag. Murphy also agreed to attend parenting classes and be supervised by the courts for five years. "This is an appropriate resolution for a defendant who was a leader in the community, but whose drug use clouded her judgment and put...

The boyfriend of a former Burbank city councilwoman pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge he traded a gang member two handguns in exchange for cocaine. Scott Schaffer, 51, of Glendale, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John Walter to one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He scheduled to be sentenced in June. Schaffer and his longtime girlfriend, 47-year-old Stacey Murphy, were arrested in July. Murphy, the mother of three and a former Burbank mayor, was taken into custody shortly after Schaffer was arrested and was ultimately charged with felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor...

DOWNTOWN BURBANK -- Citing potential "distractions" stemming from her arrest on suspicion of cocaine possession and child endangerment, City Councilwoman Stacey Murphy resigned from the City Council Tuesday, ending a more than eight-year run on the dais and setting the stage for a special election to fill her seat. In a letter addressed to City Manager Mary Alvord, Murphy said it was with a heavy heart that she was stepping down from the council "This is not an easy decision for me personally, however, for the best interests of our city, and my children, it is the right thing to...

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Burbank City Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor child endangerment. Murphy, 47, is due back in court Sept. 28, when a date will be set for a hearing to determine if there's enough evidence for her to stand trial. Bail for Murphy had been set at $100,000, but Judge Janice Croft altered that arrangement this morning, releasing her on her own recognizance. The former Burbank mayor, who has served on the Burbank City Council since 1997, was arrested July 13 after a federal search warrant was served...

LOS ANGELES (AP) The longtime boyfriend of a Burbank city councilwoman has been charged with weapons and drug violations in connection with a notorious street gang. Scott Schaffer, companion of Burbank Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy, was charged Wednesday and is being held on suspicion of trading guns to a gang member for cocaine. Schaffer's attorney said his client would plead not guilty at his arraignment Monday. Schaffer was arrested July 13 after authorities found a gun registered in his name at the home of a San Fernando Valley gang member. Authorities said Schaffer traded two guns for cocaine. Court papers...

BURBANK, Calif. -- Police took down two Interstate 5 Freeway signs honoring slain Burbank police Officer Matthew Pavelka after they were defaced with a spray-painted "187" and a gang nickname, the Daily News reported on Friday. In gang graffiti parlance, "187" -- the California penal code section for murder -- is a death threat. For Burbank police, who are investigating the case as vandalism, the graffiti opened an old wound, according to the report. "What you have here is an individual who has given his life to a particular cause, and people just vandalize it," Burbank police Sgt. Jay Jette...

BURBANK, Calif. -- Burbank City Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy said Tuesday she will stay on the job despite her arrest on suspicion of cocaine possession and child endangerment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 14 Images: Councilwoman Arrested June 29 Images: Vineland Boyz Arrests Police Arrest 22 During Operation Swift Intruder Burbank Councilwoman Accused Of Vineland Boyz Gang Ties -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I cannot comment specifically on the allegations made against me," Murphy wrote in a letter to City Manager Mary Alvord that was read at Tuesday's Burbank City Council meeting. "I intend to do the job you elected me to do, and I plan on...

Friends and acquaintances expressed shock and disbelief Friday at allegations that City Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy led a double life -- do-gooder civic leader and cocaine abuser who hung out at a bar with known gangsters. Murphy's arrest after police found drugs and guns at her Lima Street home grew out of a lengthy investigation into the notorious Vineland Boys street gang, which authorities blame for a long list of crimes, including the killing of Burbank police Officer Matthew Pavelka. Across Burbank, those who know Murphy, 47, were having trouble making the allegations jibe with their image of a successful...

Burbank Councilwoman Arrested # For Alleged Cocaine Possession, Child Endangerment Jul 15, 2005 7:40 am US/Pacific BURBANK, Calif. (AP) A city councilwoman was arrested for investigation of cocaine possession and child endangerment by members of a task force that recently raided a notorious street gang blamed in the shooting deaths of two police officers, authorities said Thursday. Councilwoman Stacey Jo Murphy, 47, was arrested Wednesday night at her home, where law enforcement agents served a federal search warrant, police said. She posted $100,000 bail and was released from jail Thursday. A phone call left for Murphy at her office Thursday...

BURBANK, Calif. -- About 600 police officers raided homes from the San Fernando Valley to Palmdale overnight, in Operation Swift Intruder, a broad operation targeting violent gang members suspected in the shooting deaths of two officers. The raid on members of the Vineland Boyz follows a similar, larger raid against the gang last month. LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon said officers were serving search warrants at more than 20 locations and had made at least 14 arrests by 6 a.m. Vernon said that two other suspects were already in custody, bringing the number of alleged gang members in custody to 16....