By Harvey Rice
Houston Chronicle
GALVESTON, Texas — A task force led by Galveston police has broken the back of a predominantly juvenile gang on the island linked to organized crime that is responsible for a summer crime wave of robberies and drug sales, Galveston police said Tuesday.
“We were able to identify and systematically dismantle an organized criminal street gang,” Chief Henry Porretto said at a news conference.
The arrests included 15 juveniles, ages 11-16, all members of the Omega gang with links to the nationally organized Crips street gang, Porretto said. Two Omega leaders were among those arrested. Other gang members and some of the leaders have yet to be arrested, including 18-year-old Malik Hunter of Galveston. Hunter is wanted on an aggravated robbery charge.
Zeta Cartel Member
About 60 arrests were made in total, 30 for crimes unrelated to the Omegas that were coincidentally uncovered during the investigation, police said.
One of those arrested in connection with the Omegas was Efrain Garcia, a member of Mexico’s infamous Zeta drug cartel, Porretto said. There was no indication that the Omegas were doing business with the drug cartel, he said.
The arrests on charges of organized criminal activity, aggravated robbery, car burglary, drug possession and outstanding warrants and probation violations led to the recovery of stolen property, much of it returned to its owners.
The investigation into Omega continues, Porretto said.
The chief said the Omegas were all from Galveston, but their crimes ranged across Galveston County.
He said handguns were confiscated from gang members, several of whom have parents who were ex-convicts. “When parents don’t raise their children they end up dealing with us,” Porretto said.
The gang was responsible for about 25 robberies over the summer, police said. The gang also is responsible for burglaries, methamphetamine production and sales of powder and crack cocaine, illegal pills and marijuana, Porretto said.
Community Policing
Police uncovered the existence of the gang after Porretto formed a task force of five beat officers and a sergeant to deal with the robberies. A La Marque officer eventually became part of the task force, said task force Officer Clint Stevens.
The officers were chosen because they had strong connections to the communities on their beats through the department’s community policing program, Porretto said. They relied on tips to uncover the gang, he said. “These interactions with the neighbors helped clean up the neighborhood,” Porretto said. He quoted an ex-convict in the neighborhood telling an officer, “These kids scare me. Y’all need to do something.”
In late August the task force enlisted the help of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Texas City and La Marque police departments and began making arrests nearly every night until last week, said Sgt. Joshua Schirard.
Stevens said the gang was formed about a year ago. The juveniles all knew each other and recruited through social media, Porretto said.
The gang was loosely formed into two units with separate leaders that coordinated their actions, he said. Two members were girls, ages 15 and 16, Stevens said.
Copyright 2014 the Houston Chronicle