the criminals in this article?
White supremacist gang busted
Gang, weapons, drug crimes alleged
Michael Kiefer
The Arizona Republic
May. 20, 2006 12:00 AM
A self-named White supremacist gang suspected of trafficking in methamphetamine and illegal weapons was the target of a 14-month, multi-agency investigation that culminated in 42 indictments on gang, weapons and drug charges.
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced the indictments Friday, while standing behind some of the confiscated weapons, including a .50 caliber gun that could bring down a police helicopter from a mile away.
The group reportedly called itself AZ 88 Boot Boys and operated mainly in west Phoenix and Glendale. Thomas identified its leader as 40-year-old Todd Streich; 32 of the accused have been arrested. advertisement
"These indictments are an important breakthrough in the fight against this violent gang," Thomas said. "This is a hateful group with a dangerous criminal agenda."
According to Assistant Phoenix Police Chief Kevin Robinson, the investigation began when a patrol officer on Phoenix's west side recognized criminal activity among residents that Robinson would not specifically identify.
But his observations launched an investigation that included Phoenix, Glendale and Scottsdale police; the County Attorney's Office; U.S. Marshals and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Thomas said the group was providing "on demand" sales of illegal weapons. Among those confiscated were 32 pipe bombs, two grenades, seven sawed-off weapons and a machine gun.
Marvin Richardson, assistant special agent for ATF, said undercover officers purchased the .50 caliber gun from people who intended to shoot down a police helicopter. Richardson said shells fired from the gun could pierce tank armor.
"The destructive capacity of those weapons makes the streets much safer without them," Richardson said. "No question."
Besides Streich, who was charged with leading a criminal syndicate, authorities released indictments for 18 men and seven women. The charges against them range from sale of dangerous drugs to trafficking in stolen property, misconduct involving weapons and assisting a criminal syndicate. The other defendants have not yet been served with their indictments.
Thomas's office said all of the defendants face mandatory prison if convicted, and four could spend the rest of their lives there.
There were no hate crimes cited that linked to the group's identity as White supremacists. "We're not calling them that. They're calling themselves that," Robinson said.
Staff reporter Judi Villa and News Channel 12 Rich Dubek contributed to this article.
2006-10-18
08:38:51
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