EDITORIAL MOB MENTALITY MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF ESCALATING ORGANIZED CRIME.ORGANIZED crime tends to follow waves of immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. , so it should surprise no one that Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County is home to an ever-growing number of ethnic crime syndicates. What is shocking is that nothing has been done about it. Newly elected District Attorney Steve Cooley Stephen Lawrence ("Steve") Cooley (born May 1, 1947 in Los Angeles, California) is a veteran prosecutor who was elected as Los Angeles County's 36th District Attorney on November 7, 2000. He was sworn in for his second term on December 6, 2004. reports that only one part-time prosecutor was assigned to deal with a growing number of local mob outfits in a county of 10 million people. The soon-to-be-released 2000 federal census numbers will show what Angelenos already know: The region is highly diverse and it has one of the nation's largest immigrant populations. In addition to newcomers from Mexico and Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. , L.A. is home to many Armenians, Russians, Iranians, Koreans, Vietnamese and other Asian immigrants. Historically, immigrant communities are highly susceptible to crime and corruption. Because newcomers tend to speak little English and lack resources, they are easy prey for predators within their own community. The resulting crime tends to manifest itself in insidious ways that affect the lives of everyone. Law enforcement officials believe that L.A.'s ethnic crime syndicates are behind a string of extortion extortion, in law, unlawful demanding or receiving by an officer, in his official capacity, of any property or money not legally due to him. Examples include requesting and accepting fees in excess of those allowed to him by statute or arresting a person and, with schemes, insurance and credit-card fraud, auto theft, counterfeiting, fuel-tax fraud and money- laundering rackets rackets Game for two or four players with ball and racket on a four-walled court. Rackets is played with a hard ball in a relatively large court (approximately 9 × 18 m), unlike the related games of squash and racquetball. . Their victims are the most vulnerable among us - the poor and fellow immigrants. Cooley has announced that his office will form an Organized Crime Division to focus on ethnic crime syndicates and hate groups. It's a good first step. The city and county must be vigilant - or else they're sure to fall to mob rule. |
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