by Jim Kouri, CPP
San Diego police and federal law enforcement are in the midst of a major crackdown on the Mexican Mafia in several neighborhoods in that city. Most of the members of the deadly gang are illegal aliens, police say.
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As part of what they characterize as an intense operation, US law enforcement authorities indicted 36 alleged members or associates of the Mexican Mafia using a Racketeering Influence and Criminal Organization statute on Friday, said police sources told this writer.
Federal officials predict that this major anti-crime operation would be “the beginning of the end” of the violent gang. Charges brought against those indicted include racketeering, murder, drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit murder.
Sixteen of the 36 were already in state prison — some serving life sentences — but were able to order killings and drug deals by smuggling out coded messages, often with the help of wives or girlfriends, according the indictment. Only four of the 36 indicted are still fugitives.
As opposed to being incarcerated in a state corrections facility, under a federal indictment, prisoners can be moved to federal prison facilities anywhere in the United States, making it more difficult for gangsters to communicate with their associates outside.
This indictment represents the first time that officials in San Diego County have used the federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization statute to attack the Mexican Mafia, according to sources close to the investigation.
In addition to those being incarcerated or tried in federal court, illegal aliens from Mexico who are part of the gang or known associates of the Mexican Mafia may be picked up by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement for processing to be deported.
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he’s a staff writer for the New Media Alliance (thenma.org). He’s former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed “Crack City” by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He’s also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country.  Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He’s a news writer for TheConservativeVoice.Com. He’s also a columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he’s syndicated by AXcessNews.Com.  He’s appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com. Kouri’s own website is located at http://jimkouri.us
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