June 10, 2008

More than 100 gang members and associates nabbed following ICE-led operation in Georgia
ICE works with local officers to make arrests

ATLANTA – More than 100 gang members and associates were arrested as a result of a state-wide initiative in Georgia led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents.  

The success of the operation dubbed “Community Shield” was as a result of a collaborative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal level. The operation, which culminated Saturday, targeted gang members living in the Atlanta metro area, Dalton, Savannah, and Albany.

Of those arrested, 122 were gang members and five were gang associates. Seven cases will be presented for federal prosecution for illegal re-entry after deportation. Nineteen were arrested for state charges and/or had outstanding arrest warrants. Two weapons were also seized during the operation.

The leaders of La Raza, Westside Via Locos and Inland Empire were also nabbed. Among those arrested were:

• Salvador Delamora, 34, leader of Westside Via Locos, previously convicted for attempted robbery.
• Vicente Garcia, 31, member of the SUR 13, previously convicted for armed robbery and vehicle theft.
• Roberto Dominguez, 27, previously convicted for conspiracy to commit assault in racketeering (RICO). He served 33 months in prison, was deported and illegally re-entered the country. He now faces criminal prosecution for illegally re-entering the United States.

“These criminals seek to terrorize our communities through their violent acts against the innocent,” said Kenneth Smith, special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Atlanta. “These recent arrests should send the message to gang members that the law enforcement community in Georgia is united and in full force. Our law-abiding citizens can sleep a little better tonight knowing that there are more than 120 violent gang members off our streets.”

Among the 122 men arrested were members of violent gangs including the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13); Norteno; West Side Locos; SUR-13; Inland Empire -13; Vatos Locos; 18th Street; La Raza; Latin Kings Northside-14; Brownside Locos and the Southside Rascals. Those arrested represent Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala.

These arrests are the latest actions under Operation Community Shield, a comprehensive initiative launched by ICE in February 2005 to disrupt and dismantle transnational, violent street gangs in the United States.
Since the inception of this operation, more than 8,000 gang members belonging to more than 700 different  violent street gangs have been arrested.

ICE special agents worked with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies including: the FBI Safe Streets Task Force; the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia; Gwinnett County Police Department; Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office; Atlanta Police Department; Chamblee Police Department;  Sandy Springs Police Department; Roswell Police Department; Dekalb County Police Department; Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office; Hall County Sheriff’s Office; Gainesville Police Department; Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office; Canton Police Department; Henry County Police Department; Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, Cobb County Police Department; Clayton County Police Department; Douglas County Sheriff’s Office; Forest Park Police Department; Powder Spring Police Department; Marietta Police Department;  Kennesaw Police Department; Coffee County Sheriff’s Office; Tift County Sheriff’s Office; Atkinson County Sheriff’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); GBI; Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, Dalton Police Department; Bartow County Sheriff’s Office and Cartersville Police Department.

To report suspicious activity, members of the public should call ICE at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE comprises four integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423.

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