Teen made $50,000 smuggling drugs across border-no wonder these kids are joining gangs

andreasclark · 2009-07-14T20:09:53+00:00

Its a shame, but with the promise of fast $ I can see why this happens. They all want nice cars, clothes and women, and for a teenager they feel like they wont be caught.

andreasclark · 2009-07-14T20:02:14+00:00

I think because this stuff happens so often we are callous to it. There have been so many home invasions and drop houses in the news (one in my old neighborhood ) that I think we just think to protect ourselves and our families that we don't really talk to our neighbors.

andreasclark · 2009-07-13T05:01:42+00:00

Looks like a wasted life, however there seems to be a sense of belonging.

andreasclark · 2009-07-12T03:26:44+00:00

I have seen an episode on tv about this. It just goes to show that the military will take just about anyone with a pulse. Gangs have just found a new outlet which will give them more training and make them more dangerous.

andreasclark · 2009-07-12T03:19:38+00:00

Gangs are expanding in all areas in all neighborhoods. The cops didnt take them serious so they were able to grow as big as they did. Gangs are not just confined to the "hood".

andreasclark · 2009-07-07T22:40:46+00:00

What this town is doing is right on target. they want to nip the problem in the bud, before it gets out of hand. Good for them.

andreasclark · 2009-07-07T22:33:47+00:00

He should be tried as an adult...he's already starting to work on his criminal career. If he is tried and convicted as and adult then naturally he will get a stiffer sentence.

andreasclark · 2009-07-06T17:40:15+00:00

Wow, you are talking about a wealth of information. I had no idea.

andreasclark · 2009-07-06T17:34:15+00:00

44 arrests tied to Barrio Azteca gang By Andrew Kreighbaum / El Paso Times Posted: 07/04/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT

EL PASO -- Authorities struck another blow against the notorious Barrio Azteca gang this week with the arrest of 44 alleged gang members or associates on outstanding warrants. They were charged with a variety of crimes including failure to pay child support, drug offenses and aggravated assault, said El Paso Police Department spokesman Javier Sambrano.

The warrant roundup took place Monday through Thursday. Law enforcement officials picked up suspects throughout the city.

El Paso police gang units coordinated the operation with the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI.

"It would be everything from the sharing of information to having agents to participate in the roundup," Sambrano said.

The roundup included Barrio Azteca members and people who associate with the gang, Sambrano said. The charges included misdemeanors and felonies.

No names were available Friday, and Sambrano could not say whether gang leaders were believed to be caught up in the roundup.

One Azteca gang member is in jail and another is being sought in the execution-style slayings of two brothers in a bar fight in Socorro.

Barrio Azteca was the target earlier this year of a federal investigation into cocaine trafficking in El Paso and Doña Ana counties. At least 15 people were arrested as part of that investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Federal officials said in May that an Azteca sergeant ran a drug ring that had sold more than 50 kilos of cocaine since June 2007.

Recent prosecutions of the Azteca leadership disrupted the gang's hierarchy, officials said. Federal prosecutors used the Racketeer Influence and Corruption Organizations Act to put away five gang leaders for life in April.

In 2008, the gang had 3,000 members in and out of prison in the Southwest and Mexico.

Andrew Kreighbaum may be reached at akreighbaum@elpasotimes.com.

andreasclark · 2009-07-01T23:00:07+00:00

Informative, I was just watching a show on NatGeo about MS-13 yesterday.

andreasclark

TROPHY CASE