Archive News 2007 Back to FGIA Gang News Home Page

Authorities seek ways to curtail surge in gangs
MiamiHerald.com - Miami,FL,USA
... from ostracism and domestic violence to parental neglect and dropping out of school. most of florida's gang activity is concentrated in its cities, ...
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New sheriff starts campaign against drugs, gangs
Bradenton Herald - FL, United States
A: Instead of arresting gang members for every crime they commit, we have worked with prosecutors to use racketeering laws to prosecute people as members of ...
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Armed Homicide Suspect Arrested in the Tampa Bay Area
United States Marshals Service (press release) - Washington,DC,USA
It later was discovered that the residence housed Latin King Gang members. Additionally, a Tech-9 machine gun was located with four large capacity magazines ...
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Jewelry store break-ins mimic Southeast string
The Northwest Florida Daily News - Fort Walton Beach,FL,USA
... crimes involving jewelry stores and dealers, issued an alert earlier this month warning that the Florida gang could have reached as far as Maryland. ...
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Nicole Brochu: Prevention is key to combating gang violence in ...
Sun-Sentinel.com - Fort Lauderdale,FL,USA
In announcing the gang task force, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum said prevention programs had to be part of the strategy. FSU's report singles out ...
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Police briefs: Police say gang vandalized neighborhood
Bradenton Herald - FL, United States
Police briefs are compiled from reports from the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, the police departments from Bradenton, ...
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Three murder suspects caught in NY jailed in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach Post - FL, United States
... of the Bloods gang. Townsend has an extensive arrest record including several gun and drug charges. The other two have no prior arrests in Florida, ...
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Florida attorney general discusses cybercrime, gangs
Daytona Beach News-Journal - Daytona Beach,FL,USA
"It isn't just taking down gang leaders. We need to do a better job of prevention and intervention." McCollum talked about using programs such as the Boys ...
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Central Fla.-Puerto Rico Gun Trade Investigated
Local6.com - Orlando,FL,USA
... in the hands of local gang members involved in drug trafficking," Luis Fraticelli said. "We see the connection between Puerto Rico and Central Florida. ...
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"Kuntry Boys" gang member sentenced
Tampa Bay's 10 - St. Petersburg,FL,USA
Tampa, Florida -- A member of the "Kuntry Boys" gang has been sentenced to 37 months in prison on his guilty plea to distribution of crack cocaine. ...
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"ICE Princess" Hopes To Stop S. Fla. Crime Wave
CBS 4 - Miami,FL,USA
ICE is also investigating gang violence in South Florida which recently had more than 350 arrests in our area. "Miami-Fort Lauderdale unfortunately has a ...
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Anti-gang effort open to new ideas
Bradenton Herald - FL, United States
Frank Gargett, regional anti-gang coordinator for central Florida for the Department of Juvenile Justice, said he hopes to get students to clean up graffiti ...
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Criminals infiltrate Pinellas
Tampa Bay Newspapers - Seminole,FL,USA
Gang members mail their booty to out of state addresses so they are not caught with stolen property. Saxer said many families are establishing themselves in ...
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Anti-gang program hits stride
Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota,FL,USA
Manatee, Hillsborough and Broward counties are the first sites in Florida to launch Amer-I-Can, a life-skills and self-esteem program. ...
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To get at state's gangs, start getting their guns
Palm Beach Post - FL, United States
A federal study showed that no state has experienced more growth in gang activity over the past 25 years. According to the Florida Department of Corrections ...
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Anti-gang program gives youth head start
Stuart News (subscription) - Stuart,FL,USA
This is the first after-school program in the state to use the Phoenix Curriculum, the only anti-gang program endorsed by the Florida Gang Investigators ...
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War on gangs: Manatee scoring some victories
Bradenton Herald - FL, United States
We were weary of reading article after article about gang suspects getting released when victims and witnesses, fearing harm, fled or refused to testify. ...
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Member of Asian gang sentenced to 33 years

He had pleaded guilty to a second-degree murder charge in a 2004 car chase and shooting.

By Abhi Raghunathan, Times Staff Writer
Published November 6, 2007 Largo,FL

Florida's gang fight
Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota,FL,USA
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum's proposed strategy for combating gang-related crime is still several months from completion, but several promising ...
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Youth gangs growing concern in state
Daytona Beach News-Journal - Daytona Beach,FL,USA
... he focuses on the root of the gang problem. Why do these kids join gangs in the first place? Vulnerable youths in Florida are searching for structure, ...
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Authorities consider using court orders to deter gang members from gathering

By PATRINA A. BOSTIC- Manatee county
patrina.bostic@heraldtribune.com
After decades of unprecedented and growing gang violence, Florida is following California's lead by trying to keep gangsters from fraternizing and crowding into known gang territory.

Our view: Seize the momentum
Florida Today - Melbourne,FL,USA
Most importantly, a small but growing number of Booker T. residents are defying the drug thugs and gang-bangers to retake their streets. ...
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Authorities hunt Jamaican gangs in US
Jamaica Gleaner - Kingston,Jamaica
Authorities arrested three suspected gang members Monday night in New York City in the killing of Damion Bryan, 29, of West Palm Beach, and wounding of ...
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Attorney General to address gangs
PensacolaNewsJournal.com - FL
Attorney General Bill McCollum will have a news conference Thursday to discuss his efforts to create a statewide gang-reduction strategy. ...
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3 Arrested On Charges Of Assault Weapon Theft
WESH.com - Winter Park,FL,USA
Investigators have not connected the suspects they've identified to any kind of gang activity but they said the suspects certainly run around in a group ...
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ICE nails foreign gang members in 19 States
Blogger News Network - USA
Here is a quote from a Sheriff in Florida: Collier County, Fla., Sheriff Don Hunter notes that, "Criminal illegal immigrants are committing crimes and ...
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Graffiti sprayed on San Carlos Park buildings
The News-Press - Fort Myers,FL,USA
The tags are in blue paint and say "Sur 13," which refers to the Sureños, a Mexican-American gang that originated in southern California. ...
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Chamber members learn signs of gang activity
Newszap Florida - FL,USA
By Chauna Aguilar, Okeechobee News The Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce learned about signs of gang related activity and ways that the Florida Gang ...
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Gangs Are Using the Internet
ABC Action News - Tampa,FL,USA
Jonas is also head of training for the Florida Gang Investigators Association. "There have been instances, not necessarily in Lakeland, but in other parts ...
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Gang Members Getting Younger
WALB-TV - Albany,GA,USA
Albany - - Gang activity is on the rise in South Georgia and investigators say gang members are getting younger. In Georgia last year, more than 200 ...
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Collier County sheriff in Washington DC to discuss anti-gang ...
Winknews.com - Fort Myers,Florida,USA
... along with several other officials, to discuss the Operation Community Shield Program, and the results of a three-month anti-gang enforcement program. ...
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Cop Killings Rise, Video Games Blamed(?!)
Action Trip - USA
Grossman relates how officers raiding methamphetamine labs and gang hangouts often find violent video games left behind. "Every time they take down a gang ...
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Authorities investigating local nonprofit directing refugees to Canada
Naples Daily News - Naples,FL,USA
"We are targeting the gang members, the predators, the drug traffickers and those that present the greatest threat to the law-abiding citizens of our ...
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Violent Crimes
WJHG-TV - Panama City,FL,USA
Grady Jordan of the Gang Investigators Association says the cuts could hurt their fight against violent crime, but that won't change how they do their job. ...
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Law enforcement goes ROGUE with new anti-gang initiative
The News Herald - Bay County,FL,USA
Florida Department of Law Enforcement will be used for manpower and intelligence, and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the Florida Department ...
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Taking back gang turf
WPTV - West Palm Beach,FL,USA
Fourteen men, West Palm Beach police say, are gang members and now on notice. A first in the state of Florida, the city has served civil gang injunctions ...
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Gang grand jury starts in West Palm
Palm Beach Post - FL, United States
By JOHN LANTIGUA WEST PALM BEACH -- A year-long statewide grand jury that will focus largely on gang violence around Florida was convened at the Main ...
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Alleged gang leader gets 7 years in plea deal
Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota,FL,USA
A statewide grand jury was launched in August to address gang-related violence in counties across Florida. The jurors, McCollum said, are expected to make a ...
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Men recall adopting street life for the love, and their arduous ...
Palm Beach Post - FL, United States
And neither man would name fellow gang members. They also say that much Florida gang violence today is not a question of wars between gangs but disputes ...
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Assault-Weapon Attacks on Rise in Miami
The Associated Press -
The rising number of deaths by assault weapons reflects growing availability of the weapons and their elevation to a status symbol among gang members, ...
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Girls in Gangs Face Violence, Prostitution
abc7.com - Los Angeles,CA,USA
... part of a gang, and you're part of it because your whole family is." Jill Gentry is Executive Director at the PACE Center for Girls in Orlando, Florida. ...
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Palatka PD to Name Gang Specialist
First Coast News - Jacksonville,FL,USA
There are specific markings from a handful of gangs around Palatka, according to two officers from south Florida that specialize in spotting and weeding out ...
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Palm Beach County schools awaiting $450000 in anti-gang funds
Sun-Sentinel.com - Fort Lauderdale,FL,USA
By Marc Freeman | South Florida Sun-Sentinel August 30, 2007 New federal funding to fight gang activity in Palm Beach County could be on the way, US Rep. ...
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Operation FALCON targets fugitives in Florida
EmeraldCoast.com - Sandestin,FL,USA
An operation that targeted violent fugitives, sex offenders and wanted gang members netted dozens of arrests across North Florida. The Bay County Sheriff's ...
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Bradenton triple shooting
Tampa Bay's 10 - St. Petersburg,FL,USA
Bradenton, Florida - Gunfire rings out and three men are shot in a Bradenton neighborhood. Police say it could be gang related. ...
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PSL police arrest 16 suspected gang members
Palm Beach Post - FL, United States
Police estimated the gang included a total of 35 members with influences from South Florida and Fort Pierce. Skinner declined to name the gang or its ...
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Department of Justice Announces More Than $1.8 Million in Anti ...
Lawfuel (press release) - Wellington,NA,New Zealand
... today announced three grant awards to Florida totaling more than $1.8 million in Anti-Gang Initiative funding to combat gang violence and increase gang ...
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Lake Worth unit curbs surge in violence
Palm Beach Post - FL, United States
He recognized Lucius Brown, a Top 6 gang member with a lengthy arrest record. And Brown recognized the officers. He took off. Men are handcuffed as Tactical ...
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Hasner joins with Atwater and McCollum in new gang legislation
Boca Raton News - FL, USA
"Gang related criminal activity has increased in Florida. As a result, we must strengthen our laws to provide law enforcement agencies the tools they need ...
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Gang member arrested in drive-by shooting
Tampa Bay's 10 - St. Petersburg,FL,USA
Gibsonton, Florida - Hillsborough County Sheriff's detectives have arrested a known gang member for attempted murder and other charges after a drive-by ...
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Clothing may send the wrong message
Tallahassee Democrat - Tallahassee,FL,USA
Grady Jordan, director of intelligence for the Florida Gang Investigators Association, said parents may buy a shirt for their child, not knowing it may ...
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Statewide grand jury to probe gang violence
Palm Beach Post - FL, United States
By BY JOHN LANTIGUA WEST PALM BEACH -- A statewide grand jury focusing on the scourge of street gang violence in Florida will be empaneled in West Palm Beach ...
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Florida ranks 2nd in drive-by shootings
Palm Beach Post - FL, United States
"Basically, what we saw last year was a tremendous spike in gang-related shootings," said Lt. Michael Wallace, the head of an inter-agency violent crime ...
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Anti-gang program takes on an African beat
Tampa Bay's 10 - St. Petersburg,FL,USA
St. Petersburg, Florida-Street gangs often give some kids a place to belong. The average age for gang members is as young as 9 and as old as 30. ...
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Peace in the Hood' looks for cure to gangs
Tallahassee Democrat - Tallahassee,FL,USA
He said the number of gang members and their associates has doubled to about 300 in less than 18 months. He said they're in neighborhoods of all classes. ...
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Promoting 'Peace in the Hood'
Tallahassee Democrat - Tallahassee,FL,USA
Instead of choosing to join a gang for protection like many of his peers, Grady, now supervisor at the Jake Gaither Community Center, chose basketball as ...
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Teen arrested in attack on girl
Florida Today - Melbourne,FL,USA
BY JD GALLOP WEST MELBOURNE -- A self-professed gang leader is in custody today after detectives charged him with taking sexual advantage of a 13-year-old ...
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Our view: Going after gangs
Florida Today - Melbourne,FL,USA
With gang violence rising across Florida, the state Senate was foolish this year to squash a bill that would have toughened penalties for gang-bangers and ...
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ICE Chief's New Plan To Prevent Violence
CBS 4 - Miami,FL,USA
(CBS4) The new head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Miami says dealing with gang violence and weapons traffickers are among his top priorities. ...
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NFL great promotes youth program
Florida Today - Melbourne,FL,USA
The program is based on the model started by Hall of Fame football legend Jim Brown, an activist against gang violence. Gang "culture is not a good culture ...
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Bullets fly during roundup
Orlando Sentinel - Orlando,FL,USA
US Marshals agents said Golden belongs to a local gang that steals drugs from drug dealers' homes. Officers found drugs and a weapon "in plain view" inside ...
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Teen held on murder charge in gang-related killing

FORT PIERCE — When a student greeted Charles "Miami" Hall by his nickname back in May, the 16-year-old replied his new nickname was "King."

Legal system tries to keep up with prolific rival Asian gangs

ST. PETERSBURG - Men Sorn didn't have to tell deputies at the Pinellas County Jail that he was a gang member

Teen charged in drug slaying

ST. PETERSBURG - Just two years ago, Kevin Yun was ordered to stay away from gang members after being arrested in a gun-related incident.

Fighting Florida's gangs
Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota,FL,USA
All of them involved people, some as young as age 15, who have been identified as gang members by law enforcement officials. Southwest Florida is one of ...
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Mom Feeding Baby Shot In Neck In Apparent Gang-Related Incident

3-Month-Old Nearly Hit By Bullets

Video on website

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State's self-defense law could cut both ways
Palm Beach Post - FL, United States
Here were the facts before them: Investigators linked the two dead men to Surenos 13, a Latin gang. It was about 2 am, on a street where many people ...
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Florida crime rate hits 36 year low
Tampa Bay's 10 - St. Petersburg,FL,USA
... has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court to convene a statewide grand jury to investigate an increase in crimes that can be attributed to gang activity. ...
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Keeping the area gang-free
Beaufort Gazette - Beaufort,SC,USA
... teens for a Florida-based gang and organize a meeting in Columbia, where they planned a fight at a high school football game, according to police. ...
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Gang Crime in Florida
AM850 - FL,USA
Although the Florida State Supreme court has ordered a statewide grand jury investigation into rising large-scale gang crime in Florida. ...
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Crist seeks grand jury for gang problem
Palm Beach Post - FL, United States
Charlie Crist announced today that he has asked the Florida Supreme Court to convene a statewide grand jury to investigate an increase in gang activity. ...
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Fatal shooting at Miami graduation party may be gang-related, police say

Authorities were searching for the suspects, and the shootings were believed to be gang related

Senate Judiciary Committee Overwhelmingly Approves

Feinstein-Hatch Comprehensive Gang Legislation

Legislation, which has broad, bipartisan support, would authorize more than

$1 billion, including at least $411.5 million for gang prevention programs-

Gang members arrested in Hillsborough
Tampa Bay's 10 - St. Petersburg,FL,USA
Hillsborough County, Florida - Hillsborough County deputies made more than 40 arrests today as they work to stop the growing gang problem in the Bay Area. ...
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2nd Annual Gang Free Florida Summit develops ideas to combat gang problem

A recent summit held by the Florida Gang Investigators Association (FGIA) in Orlando helped foster ideas on how to prosecute gang members once they are arrested and go before a judge.

Slaying may be linked to South Florida gang war, police say
Orlando Sentinel - Orlando,FL,USA
A growing gang war among Haitian-Americans in South Florida may have spread to Orange County on Friday, authorities said. The daytime slaying of an Orlando ...
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House Passes Thompson's Amendment to Prohibit Gang Members in the Military

Gang members are taking combat training back to the streets, putting law enforcement and civilians at risk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Police seek 2 more youths in school shooting
St. Petersburg Times - St. Petersburg,FL,USA
Although Cruz is thought to belong to a gang, police are not sure yet whether the shooting was related to a gang dispute, said police spokeswoman Laura ...

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Sheriff Steube to speak about gang violence
Bradenton Herald - Bradenton,FL,USA
Rudy Hermond, vice president and general manager of AT&T's wireless operations in west central Florida, nominated Clay.
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Fort Pierce camp to prevent violence needs more volunteers
Vero Beach Press-Journal (subscription) - Vero Beach,FL,USA
The two main issues volunteers at the camp will focus on are preventing gang violence and curtailing the area's below-average scores on the Florida ...
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'Cruisers' face fine under new city law
Press & Sun-Bulletin - Binghamton,NY,USA
The legislation is based on similar statutes in Pennsylvania, California and Florida enacted primarily to cut down on gang members staking out territory. ...
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Tragedy opens eyes
Bradenton Herald - Bradenton,FL,USA
"I won't say what gang because I want them all to think we are coming after them." Also, an anti-gang bill in the Florida House passed unanimously, ...
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Guardian Angels trying to slow crime rate
WBBH - Ft. Myers,FL,USA
"You know dog-gone well those guns are going to be used on one another, drug dealers, gang bangers or innocent people in the wrong place at the wrong time," ...
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Michael Goforth: Need to address gangs is urgent
TCPalm - Jupiter,FL,USA
Those who believe that gang activity is limited to minority youth in poor areas of Fort Pierce are wrong, according to a five-month study involving more ...
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Feds to pack punch in local crime fights
Orlando Sentinel - Orlando,FL,USA
The decision follows months of lobbying by local lawmakers, who repeatedly have asked federal authorities to reinforce a region beset by gang activity, ...
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Justice Department sends crime-fighting teams to Orlando, other cities
WMC-TV - Memphis,TN,USA
Since December 2006, the FBI has deployed Violent Gang and Violent Crime/Gang Safe Streets Task Forces in Jackson and southeast Mississippi. ...
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Football legend to speak on gangs
Bradenton Herald - Bradenton,FL,USA
Also, the bill would have established a Florida Department of Law Enforcement database of known gang members in the state of Florida, which could be ...
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By Any Other Name, Amnesty Bill Still Stinks!
VDARE.com - Warrenton,VA,USA
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), one gang called MS-13 has been identified in 42 states. Another group called the 18th Street Gang is ...
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Bloods leader gets life in prison
Baltimore Examiner - Baltimore,MD,USA
Baltimore City Circuit Judge John Prevas sentenced Blake, 35, and fellow gang member Jermile "Smiley" Harvey, 23, of Baltimore, to life for the murder of ...
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Sachs gathers officials to symposium on gangs
Boca Raton News - Boca Raton,FL,USA
A tri-county effort may be needed to battle gang violence, according to officials who attended a recent symposium at Florida Atlantic University sponsored ...
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Detective tells Rotarians about area gang situation
Newszap Florida - FL,USA
He is also the Southeast Regional Director of the Florida Gang Investigators Association (FGIA) where he is in charge of all of the counties south of Indian ...
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Community calling for changes to combat gang violence after death ...
Tampa Bay's 10 - St. Petersburg,FL,USA
Bradenton , Florida- The death of Stacy Williams III shocked and outraged the community. But it's not the first time there's been a gang related drive by ...
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Florida Gang Recruits Members Via MySpace: Top News Stories at ...

Florida Gang Recruits Members Via MySpace: Top News Stories at Officer.com.
www.officer.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=36300

Are gangs a problem in Orange County , FL ?

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Prosecutors expand legal arsenal to target gang members
Palm Beach Post - Palm Beach,FL,USA Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, sponsored legislation to enhance Florida's gang laws. The measure did not make it in time for a vote before the session ended. ...

Ganging up on violence May 25. 2007

A gang confrontation was not at the center of this week's fatal shooting of 9-year-old Stacy Williams III in Manatee County, investigators say.

Teen Hospitalized After Drive-By Shooting Describes Experience May. 23, 2007

Miami, Fl