Authorities round up 33 on gang activity charges

The prosecutor says Youngstown has 800 gang members.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Three rival South Side gangs who police said marked their territory with graffiti now get to write notes to their lawyers.
Thirty-three members of the South Side Soldiers, L Unit (for Lucius Avenue) and Dale Boys (refers to Auburndale and Avondale avenues) are charged with participation in a criminal gang. The charge requires at least one prior felony conviction.
Of the 33 defendants, 11 are adults. The age range is 12 to 20. Those 18 and older were juveniles when the alleged crimes were committed.
Forty-four local, state and federal officers split into four teams and hit the streets at 6 a.m. Wednesday to make the arrests. The Mahoning County Sheriff's Department provided a transport van.
Helped with operation
Participants included the multiagency FBI/Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force; bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Ohio Adult Parole Authority; Street Crimes Unit; U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force; Mahoning County Sheriff's Department; and officers from Boardman, Austintown and Mill Creek MetroParks.
Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains said Youngstown, with a population of roughly 80,000, has 800 gang members -- 1 percent, which rivals big cities such as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. He said Wednesdays' arrests send a strong message.
The lawmen rounded up nearly all of the 33 defendants by early afternoon. Most were found on their home turf, the South Side, with a few others found on the East Side. Those 18 and older were taken to the Mahoning County jail and will be eligible for bond.
Those under 18 were taken to the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center. Anissa Jones, juvenile prosecutor, said the detention center has an abundance of juveniles charged with such crimes as aggravated robbery and murder and she could not estimate how many of those charged with gang activity would remain in custody. She said the possibility of electronically monitored house arrest is being discussed.
She spoke at a news conference Wednesday attended by city, county and federal officials.
Mayor's view
Mayor Jay Williams said he intends to invest resources this summer for the city's young people -- fun activities for those who want to stay out of trouble and law enforcement for those who don't. He said a city youth director will be in place within 30 days.
He said the gang roundup shows he won't allow the quality of life to diminish. He wants to make it a "long difficult summer for those who engage in illicit activity."
Police Chief Jimmy F. Hughes said it's important to reduce crime as summer nears, especially crimes committed by gang members.
"We want to make it an uncomfortable summer for those carrying weapons and committing violence," said FBI Special Agent John Kane, head of the bureau's Boardman office.
Orders of apprehension for all the accused were issued by juvenile court. Jones said for those 15 and older, the state will file motions to have them tried as adults and, if convicted, the penalty is three to eight years. For those convicted in juvenile court, the penalty is a minimum of one year at the Department of Youth Services up to age 21.
Range of crimes
The gang members did everything from drug offenses and theft to vandalism and shooting at one another, Jones said. Getting them now may stop hard-core drug crimes a few years from now, she said.
Investigators documented 187 criminal acts and hundreds more crimes that didn't qualify for the gang activity charge.
Seized during Wednesday's arrests were two rifles, one handgun and a fake but realistic looking lever-action rifle with a sawed-off stock.
As with conventional organized crime, the gang members' criminal histories tie them together, said Lt. Robin Lees, commander of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force. The investigation began 18 months ago.
Davis said the gangs aren't wearing colors to identify themselves anymore but do mark their territory with graffiti.
meade@vindy.com