10 gang members arrested following ICE-led operation in Charlotte

ICE.gov ^ | February 19, 2009 | n/a

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0902/090219charlotte.htm

February 19, 2009

10 gang members arrested following ICE-led operation in Charlotte Arrests include members of MS-13, Surenos, Brown Pride, SUR-13 and Latin Kings

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Ten foreign-born gang members with ties to local violent street gangs were arrested here yesterday following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) led operation.

The operation, dubbed Community Shield, was a multi-agency effort spearheaded by ICE. Among the participating agencies were the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD); the United States Marshals Service and the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety's Alcohol Law unit (NC-ALE).

The operation targeted foreign-born members and associates of MS-13, Surenos, Brown Pride, SUR-13 and Latin King street gangs. Those arrested were illegally present in the United States and are now in ICE custody; however, four of them, although administratively arrested, were referred to the United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina for possible criminal prosecution due to criminal offenses that include possession of marijuana, re-entering the United States after deportation, and possession of a firearm.

"We will continue teaming with our law enforcement partners to target those terrorizing our communities," said Joan Nash-Scavazzon, acting assistant special agent in charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Charlotte. "Through these partnerships, we will use all of our combined law enforcement tools to thwart the criminal efforts of street gangs."

Transnational gangs pose a growing public safety threat to communities throughout the country. It is estimated that there are over 900 different criminal gangs in the United States. These gangs no longer own turf in just the inner city but have spread their criminal networks throughout suburban and rural communities.

These transnational street gangs have a significant number of foreign-born members and are frequently involved in human and contraband smuggling, immigration violations and other crimes. Like any street gang, these transnational gangs also have a propensity toward violence. Their members commit a myriad crimes including robbery, extortion, assault, rape and murder.

Operation Community Shield is an ongoing national initiative in which ICE partners with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to address the significant public safety threat posed by transnational street gangs. Partnerships with local law enforcement agencies are essential to the success of the initiative, and they help further ensure officer safety during the operations.

Since ICE began Operation Community Shield in February 2005, more than 11,800 gang members belonging to more than 700 different gangs have been arrested nationwide.

The public is encouraged to report suspicious activity by calling ICE's 24-hour toll-free hotline at: 1-866-347-2423.

-- ICE --

[Moonman62]

No, the GOP needs to reach out to them first.

[Surtur]

Are you certain you are thinking of a Skynyrd song? From your mentions of a bullet and the word zone, I am more reminded of a song by Golden Earring called "Twilight Zone". Below are the lyrics:

Intro:
Somewhere early morning in a hotel room
there's a guy starting to realize
that eternal fate
has turned it's back on him.

It's 2am.... <>1st Verse:

It's 2 am (it's 2 am)
The fear is gone (the fear is gone)
I'm sitting here waiting (sitting here waiting)
The gun's still warm (the gun's still warm)
Maybe my connection
Is tired of taking chances

Yeah, there's a storm on the loose
Sirens in my head
Wrapped up in silence
All circuits are dead
Cannot decode
My whole life spins into a frenzy

Chorus: (2 times)

Help I'm steppin' into the Twilight Zone
Place is a madhouse
Feels like being cloned
My beacons been moved
Under moon and star
Where am I to go Now that I've gone too far

(2 times)
Soon You will come to know
When the bullet hits the bone

2nd Verse:

I'm fallin' down a spiral
Destination unknown
Double-crossed messenger
All alone
Can't get no connection
Can't get through where are you?

Well the night weighs heavy
On his guilty mind
This far from
The border line
When the hitman comes
He knows damn well he has been cheated

(chorus) A video of the band/song can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irZi18VR31M

[Surtur]

Ok, didn't read this far down before posting. Since you know the song
"The Needle and the Spoon",
then the artist is LYNYRD SKYNYRD
and the Album is "Second Helping".

The lyrics are below;

Thirty days, lord and thirty nights
I'm comin' home on an airplane flight
Mama waitin' at the ticket line
Tell me son why do you stand there cryin'

(chorus)
It was the needle and the spoon
And a trip to the moon
Took me away, took me away

I've been feelin' so sick and tired
Got to get better, lord before I die
Seven doctors couldn't help my head, they said
You better quit, son before your dead

(chorus)
Quit the needle. Quit the spoon
Quit the trip to the moon
We gonna take you away. Lord, we gonna take you away

(spoken)
It was the needle and the spoon

I've seen a lot of people who thought they were cool
But then again, lord I've seen a lot of fools
Well, I hope you people, lord can hear what I say
You'll have your chance to hit it some day

(chorus)
Don't mess with the needle or a spoon
Or any trip to the moon
It'll take you away

Lord, their gonna bury you boy
Don't mess with the needle
Now I know, I know, I know...