11 Gang Members Indicted in South Florida

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn here,

with a news release from the Media Office of the Attorney General Bill McCollum on . . .
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Bill McCollum
Attorney General
News Release                                  


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Date of release:           June 27, 2008


                   11 Gang Members Indicted in South Florida                    

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum and Palm Beach County
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw today announced multiple arrests under indictments
issued by the 18th Statewide Grand Jury. The indictments were handed down
earlier this month against 11 members of Top 6, a dangerous gang that
operates statewide, on charges of criminal racketeering and conspiracy to
commit racketeering.

“Without the partnerships with local, state and federal authorities, this
cooperative crackdown on gangs would not be possible,” said Attorney
General McCollum. “We’re going to keep taking these dangerous criminals off
our streets and out of our neighborhoods.”

Search warrants were served yesterday at the residences of the defendants
wanted on the racketeering charges. These arrests are the culmination of an
extensive two-year investigation named “Operation Deep Six.” Local and
state authorities believe the gang has been responsible for numerous
violent crimes including homicide, attempted homicide, drive-by shootings,
armed robberies, weapons possession, and other violence-related crimes.

“I commend all of the law enforcement agencies that stepped forward and
cinched their belts locally and joined the task force to ensure it was
successful. Our communities deserve to live in peace and tranquility,” said
Colonel Michael Gauger of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. “Our
residents deserve a safe environment to live, to raise their children and
not worry about being victims of violence. Local and state law enforcement
delivered a message that violence will not be tolerated.”

“Florida law enforcement is serious about cracking down on gangs,” said
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey. “We've
stepped up training, improved intelligence collection and we're out in full
force to dismantle violent organizations.”

The 11 individuals arrested on RICO charges have been identified as the
core group of the gang:

-     Futo Charles – DOB 10/30/1980
-     John Jerome – DOB 08/27/1982
-     Daniel Jerome – DOB 07/18/1986
-     Thomy Thomas – DOB 05/24/1982
-     Daniello Olius – DOB 07/18/1978
-     Ernst Exavier – DOB 09/18/1983
-     Smith Dort – DOB 12/25/1986
-     Jesse Thomas – DOB 03/11/1986
-     Wilson Gilles – DOB 05/24/1988
-     Carlington Gordon – DOB 06/28/1985
-     Wilbertson Noelzinord – DOB 09/26/1985

Over the past two years the Violent Crime Task Force has investigated 41
shootings and 14 homicides, including the triple homicide in Lake Worth on
March 27, 2007, directly related to this gang.  Law enforcement has also
attributed over 150 shootings, including the 2006 Christmas Eve shooting at
the Boynton Beach Mall, to Top 6 over the same time period. This gang has
been an extremely active and violent criminal enterprise in Palm Beach
County for several years.

Attorney General Bill McCollum’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will
prosecute the 11 individuals arrested in the 15th Judicial Circuit using
the racketeering charges to attack the gang as an organized criminal
operation. To address the gang issue on a statewide level, the Attorney
General’s Office launched the Statewide Grand Jury in August to investigate
criminal gang activity including crimes involving narcotics or other
dangerous drugs and robbery, as well as violations of the Florida Racketeer
Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) Act. The jurors are also
studying various criminal issues and have made recommendations on needed
laws to deter gang activities and punish those involved in these pursuits.

The agencies involved in the operation include the Attorney General’s
Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office,
the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug
Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
Boynton Beach Police Department, the Lake Worth Police Department, the
Lantana Police Department, the State Attorney’s Office for the 15th
Judicial Circuit, the Palm Beach County Violent Crimes Task Force, and the
Palm Beach County Gang Task Force.11 Gang Members Indicted in South Florida

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Evelyn out