VALLEY RESIDENTS ARRESTED IN CYCLE-GANG RAID.Byline: Melissa Schmitt Daily News Staff WriterTwo San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. men were among 17 members of a Southern California motorcycle gang arrested on suspicion of federal firearm violations, authorities said Tuesday. ``This will have a significant impact on violence in the Valley,'' said Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent John Torres. Jeffrey Johnson, 28, of Reseda and Brian McCracken, 29, of Northridge were arrested Tuesday and charged with felony possession of a firearm, Torres said. Johnson was arrested in the 17200 block of Elkwood Street in Van Nuys, and McCracken was arrested in the 18500 block of Bryant Street in Northridge, Torres said. Agents contend that Johnson and McCracken are members of the Vagos Motorcycle Gang, which has more than 200 members making it the largest motorcycle gang in Southern California, Torres said. Sawed-off shotguns, machine guns, explosives and narcotics narcotics n. 1) techinically, drugs which dull the senses. 2) a popular generic term for drugs which cannot be legally possessed, sold, or transported except for medicinal uses for which a physician or dentist's prescription is required. were confiscated con·fis·cate tr.v. con·fis·cat·ed, con·fis·cat·ing, con·fis·cates 1. To seize (private property) for the public treasury. 2. To seize by or as if by authority. See Synonyms at appropriate. adj. during the morning arrests, according to Torres. The ATF ATF Molecular virology Activating transcription factor A cellular protein that stimulates transcription of adenovirus E4 transcription unit, which acts early in infection at any of several 'enhancer' binding sites worked with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department This article is about the Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department, not to be confused with the smaller Los Angeles County Police The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is a local law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. and San Fernando police. Most of the 17 men were arrested at their homes in the Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas, Nev., areas, Torres said. They were charged with drug trafficking, firearms possession, torture, kidnapping, robbery and burglary, according to Richard Curd curd the proteinaceous part of milk precipitated by rennin. Usually contains some fat when whole milk is used. , ATF agent in charge. ``The scope and nature of the charges, and the gun seizures speak volumes about the nature of this gang,'' Curd said. ``Hopefully our work will have a lasting and debilitating de·bil·i·tat·ing adj. Causing a loss of strength or energy. Debilitating Weakening, or reducing the strength of. Mentioned in: Stress Reduction effect on them.'' During the course of a two-year investigation, agents used informants and worked undercover, living the lifestyle of the Vagos gang members, Torres said. ``Just prior to becoming full members, we were able to get enough (to arrest),'' he said. According to Torres, motorcycle gangs fight with one another. In the past couple of years those fights had escalated to include murder threats. ``The ATF gets involved when it wants to have a significant impact on violent crime, and we do believe we have in this case,'' Torres said. |
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