TASK FORCE DEALS GANG 2ND BLOW.Byline: Josh Kleinbaum and Jason Kandel Staff Writers BURBANK - A series of pre-dawn raids Dawn Raid The action of a firm or investor buying a substantial amount of shares in a company (making it a target firm) first thing in the morning when the stock markets open. This is done by a stock broker acting on behalf of a company. Because the bidding company builds a substantial stake in its target at the prevailing stock market price, the takeover costs are likely to be significantly lower than they would be had the acquiring company first made a formal dealt a serious blow to a San Fernando Valley-based cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking ring, as authorities arrested 21 people they said are connected to the infamous Vineland Vineland, city (1990 pop. 54,780), Cumberland co., S N.J., in a poultry and fruit area; settled 1861, inc. 1952 when combined with Landis township. The growing city has cooperative markets, large glassworks (with offices designed by William Lescaze), and food-processing and clothing industries. The city has a highly respected state school for retarded children, a home for retarded women, and a home for disabled veterans and their wives or widows. Boys street gang. More than 600 local and federal law enforcement officials participated in the raids. The federal indictment stemmed from a similar raid June 21 when the task force arrested 38 people suspected of being members of the Vineland Boys, a gang believed to be responsible for killing two police officers and numerous other crimes. ``These were midlevel distributors that had access to high-level importers,'' said Briane Grey, associate special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency's Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area division. ``They're at the same level (as the Vineland Boys). They shared some of the same sources of supply.'' The crackdown by the Vineland Boys Task Force seems to have slowed down gang activity in the Valley. In the monthlong period since the June 21 raid, the Los Angeles Police Department has reported 63 serious gang-related crimes. During an average summer month, the LAPD records as many as 100 gang crimes in the Valley. ``The Vineland Boys might as well get used to the idea that we'll be a constant presence in their lives,'' LAPD Chief William Bratton said. Both the Vineland Boys and the gang targeted Tuesday bought large quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine crack cocaine (kr  k)n. and methamphetamine from Mexican suppliers, officials said, and distributed the drugs to dealers in Southern California and Hawaii. Chemically purified, very potent cocaine in pellet form that is smoked through a glass pipe and is considered highly and rapidly addictive. ``They're living in a community, buying the nice house and nice cars, and that's all dirty money,'' Sgt. Derek Yoshino of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. ``Even their neighbors would not have a clue. They're living the upper-middle-class lifestyle.'' Police believe that information gathered in searches and interrogations during Tuesday's raids could lead to more arrests. ``The investigation will continue as we continue to identify additional narcotics sources, as well as gang affiliations that are mingled with them,'' LAPD Deputy Chief Michael Hillmann said. ``Dismantling a group is a long process. We're not done. We're committed to seeing it through. We're going to make this particular county a much safer place.'' Officials from nine local, state and federal law enforcement agencies formed the Vineland Boys Task Force after Burbank Police Department Officer Matthew Pavelka was killed in a November 2003 shootout with a suspected Vineland Boys member. The gang is believed to be responsible for the 1988 death of LAPD Officer James Beyea and Martha Puebla, who was killed in May 2003 at age 16 after testifying in a murder case. Last week, the task force arrested Burbank Councilwoman Stacey Murphy on suspicion of cocaine possession and child endangerment. Scott Schaffer, Murphy's longtime boyfriend, was arrested on suspicion of trading guns for cocaine with Vineland Boys members. In all, the task force has made 326 arrests, and 62 people have been indicted under federal racketeering charges. ``The totals speak for themselves, proving this task force has been very effective in its mission,'' LAPD Detective Mike Pavelka, Matthew's father, said in a written statement. ``Them guys are getting beat to a pulp,'' said William 'Blinky' Rodriguez, an anti-gang activist and executive director of Communities in Schools. ``That's what happens when you're involved in cop killing.'' Rodriguez questioned whether other gangs will fill a power vacuum after the dismantling of the Vineland Boys. ``Once they stop putting the resources in there, then what happens? That question has to be answered.'' Staff Writers Charles F. Bostwick and Dan Laidman contributed to this report. Josh Kleinbaum, (818) 713-3669 josh.kleinbaum(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): chart Chart: GANG CRIME DECLINE SOURCE: Los Angeles Police Department Daily News |
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