DENVER — Early Monday morning, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and police from Denver and surrounding communities arrest 11 Crips gang members and associates.

The arrests include a member of the Tre Tre Crips gang, the largest subset of the Rollin’ 30s Crips, the first gang established in Denver.

The reputed gangsters were reigned in on federal drug or gun charges, Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman, ATF Special Agent in Charge Marvin Richardson, and U.S. Attorney John Walsh announced.

The arrests are the third phase of a year and a half long investigation called “Operation Cripland.” Phase three of the investigation, called “Operation Patchwork” was conducted by the ATF led Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force into drug dealing and gun crimes in northeast Denver. Nine defendants were arrested in phase one of the investigation on November 4, 2009. Eleven more were arrested in phase two of the investigation on June 24. During the course of phase three of the investigation agents and officers seized eight firearms, approximately 22 ounces of crack cocaine, and powder cocaine. In addition, agents and officers yesterday seized one firearm, approximately 12 ounces of crack cocaine, and drug paraphernalia.

Those charged include:

  • David Blea, 24, of Denver, charged with two counts of knowingly distributing and dispensing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. Blea faces forfeiture of $3,300 in proceeds from his drug trafficking crimes. If convicted, the defendant faces not less than 5 years, and not more than 40 years’ incarceration, and up to a $5,000,000 fine per count.
  • Orlando Jackson, aka “Lil Drama”, 20, of Denver, charged with two counts of knowingly distributing and dispensing 50 grams or more of crack cocaine. Jackson faces forfeiture of $3,300 in proceeds from his drug trafficking crimes. If convicted, the defendant faces not less than 10 years, and up to life in federal prison, and up to a $4,000,000 fine per count.
  • Jason Lucero, 28, of Denver, charged with one count of knowingly distributing and dispensing 5 grams or more of crack cocaine. Lucero faces forfeiture of $850 in proceeds from his drug trafficking crime. If convicted, the defendant faces not less than 5 years, and not more than 40 years imprisonment, and up to a $2,000,000 fine.
  • Marlow Martin, aka “Lil Ruff”, 23, of Denver, charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, Martin faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
  • Roger McLamb, aka “C Rag”, 31, of Denver, charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, McLamb faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
  • Brian Mosley, aka “Ghost”, 23, of Denver, charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, Mosley faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
  • Gerald Sandoval, age 34, of Denver, charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, Sandoval faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
  • William Clark, aka “Bird”, 23, of Denver, charged with two counts of knowingly distributing and dispensing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. Clark faces forfeiture of $2,900 in proceeds from his drug trafficking crime. If convicted, the defendant faces not less than 5 years, and not more than 40 years imprisonment, and up to a $5,000,000 fine per count.
  • Kelvin Clark, aka “Gizmo” and “Rodney Louis Marshall”, 24, of Denver, charged with two counts of knowingly distributing and dispensing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. Clark faces forfeiture of $2,900 in proceeds from his drug trafficking crime. If convicted, the defendant faces not less than 5 years, and not more than 40 years imprisonment, and up to a $5,000,000 fine per count.
  • Adrien Ramsey, aka “Stroke”, 24, of Denver, charged with one count of knowingly distributing and dispensing 50 grams or more of crack, four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition, two counts of knowingly distributing and dispensing less than 28 grams of crack cocaine, one count of knowingly distributing and dispensing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, and one count of knowingly distributing and dispensing less than 500 grams of powder cocaine. Ramsey faces forfeiture of $4,900 in proceeds from his drug trafficking crime. If convicted of distributing and dispensing 50 grams or more of crack, the defendant faces not less than 10 years, and up to life in prison, and up to a $4,000,000 fine. If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition, the defendant faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine, per count. If convicted of distributing and dispensing less than 28 grams of crack cocaine, the defendant faces not more than 20 years imprisonment, and up to a $1,000,000 fine per count. If convicted of knowingly distributing and dispensing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine or less than 500 grams of powder cocaine, the defendant faces not less than 5 years, and not more than 40 years imprisonment, and up to a $5,000,000 fine.
  • Makalani Jackson, aka “Macaroni”, 23, Denver, was arrested on state charges.

“I’m very pleased with the way the operation has gone thus far,” said Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman. “This is a clear example of the type of impact we can have on crime in our communities when local and federal law enforcement agencies work together.”

“The ATF will use all of its resources and investigative tools to disrupt and dismantle gangs,” said Special Agent in Charge, Marvin Richardson. “We will continue to provide valuable assistance to our law enforcement partners in their pursuit of combating gang violence in our communities.”

About The Author

John Guilfoil is the editor-in-chief of Blast: Boston's Online Magazine and the Blast Magazine Network. He can be reached at [email protected]. Tweet @johnguilfoil.

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