OVER 50 GANG MEMBERS CHARGED IN LARGEST COMBINED LAW-ENFORCEMENT OPERATION IN COLORADO HISTORY

Department of Justice and Denver Gang Task Force Disrupt "Rolling 30s Crips" and the "Tre Tre Crips"

DENVER - The Department of Justice and the Metro Gang Task Force announced today that a federal grand jury in Denver has returned numerous indictments charging over 50 people with crack cocaine, cocaine distribution, money laundering and firearm related charges. The charges stem from an 18-month investigation into the alleged drug distribution activity of the Rolling 30s Crips and the Tre Tre Crips, and their associates. Of those indicted, 49 were arrested today, as part of one of the largest law enforcement operations in the history of Metro Denver. More than 450 local and state police officers, deputy sheriffs, and federal agents, with support from 12 SWAT teams, participated in today's operation.

According to the FBI and the Metro Gang Task Force, during the course of the investigation, prior to today, 85 kilograms of cocaine, 2 kilograms of crack cocaine, 2.5 kilograms of marijuana, 23 guns, 3 vehicles, and over $1,440,000 in cash have been seized. Agents and officers also executed an additional 39 search warrants this morning, seizing numerous weapons, including assault weapons, hand guns, ammunition, boxes of cash, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and ecstasy. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has seized an additional 19 guns as part of this investigation. Over 32 firearms, ammunition and more than $100,000 were seized today.

The federal grand jury in Denver returned five separate indictments alleging crack cocaine and cocaine distribution, and money laundering. In addition, the grand jury returned other indictments charging individual defendants with violations of federal law.

The first indictment charges 24 defendants, including main defendant Courtney McCoy, 28, of Denver; Marvin Bragg, 29, of Aurora, Colo.; Edgar Diaz-Calderon, 28, of Denver; and Rusty Martinez, 20, of Westminster, Colo. The second indictment charges four defendants, including main defendant Dante Butler, 32, of Aurora. The third indictment charges 16 people, including main defendant Alejandro Camacho-Levario, 33, of Denver; and Luis Camacho-Levario, 28, of Denver. The fourth indictment charges 9 defendants, and includes main defendant Vernon Edwards, 29, of Aurora, Brian Hicks, 28, of Denver, and Malcom Watson, 31, of Denver. The fifth indictment charges 14 defendants, including main defendant Baylin Kyle, 26, of Denver; and Charles Littlejohn, 44, of Denver. Nine of the defendants are charged in two different indictments.

"Thanks to the largest combined law-enforcement operation in Colorado history, a time of reckoning is finally at hand for members and associates of two of Denver's most notorious street gangs," said U.S. Attorney Troy Eid. "Today's gang takedown-made possible by the courage and unprecedented coordination of the hundreds of federal, state and local law enforcement officers involved-has made Greater Denver a safer place. Actions speak louder than words, and this enforcement action shows that disrupting and dismantling gang violence is a top priority of the U.S. Department of Justice."

"The FBI has devoted numerous resources, both human and monetary, to this endeavor," said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Cory Nelson. "Of course we could not have accomplished a task of this magnitude without the amazing efforts of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners. Together we have made Denver a safer place to live."

This investigation and prosecution is part of the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).

This case was investigated federally by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division (CID).

The investigation was led by the Metro Gang Task Force. Members of the Metro Gang Task Force include: the Denver Police Department, the Aurora Police Department, the Adams County Sheriff's Office, the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the Thornton Police Department, the Broomfield Police Department, Westminster Police Department, the Denver District Attorney's Office, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Colorado Attorney General's Office, the Colorado Department of Corrections, the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Air National Guard. The New Mexico State Patrol, the FBI office in Albuquerque, as well as the FBI and DEA offices in El Paso, Texas provided assistance.

The defendants face a variety of charges, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. If convicted, depending on the charges, defendants face anywhere from not more than four years in federal prison, to not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison.

Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Tafoya and Drug Task Force Chief Stephanie Podolak are overseeing the prosecution of these cases.

These charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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