U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney
Middle District of Florida

www.justice.gov/usao/flm

For Immediate Release

February 11, 2009

Eight Alleged Gang Members From Pasco County Indicted on Drug and Gun Charges

Tampa, FL — United States Attorney A. Brian Albritton, together with Virginia O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Pasco County Sheriff Bob White, and New Port Richey police Chief Martin Rickus, today announced the unsealing of indictments charging eight individuals, alleged to be members of the Valentine Bloods street gang in Pasco County, with numerous firearms and narcotics charges (see chart). Local and federal law enforcement officers began arresting the defendants early Tuesday morning.

The investigation of this case began a year and a half ago, when the defendants began selling firearms and narcotics across the Middle District of Florida. During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized cocaine base, as well as the following firearms:

• Norinco SKS 7.62 caliber rifle and ammunition
• Colt .38 caliber revolver and ammunition
• Charles Daly .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol
• Intratec 9mm pistol model AB-10 and ammunition
• Underwood .30 caliber model M1 rifle and ammunition
• Mossberg 12 gauge model 500 A shotgun and ammunition

U.S. Attorney Albritton stated, This investigation is an excellent example of local and federal law enforcement working in partnership to make the streets of our community safer.

ATF Special Agent in Charge, Virginia O’Brien said, These Valentine Blood gang members and associates are repeat offenders and convicted felons. These Federal indictments and arrests will make New Port Richey and Pasco County a safer place to live and work.

This sends a clear message to gangs: Stay out of Pasco County, stated Sheriff White.

Chief Martin Rickus said: These individuals have been involved in wide-ranging criminal activity in the City of New Port Richey and throughout the West Pasco area, demanding tremendous Law Enforcement resources. Through this collaborative investigation we have removed numerous guns and illegal drugs from our streets. Hopefully these dangerous individuals will receive maximum prison sentences for the crimes they committed.

This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative (CAGI), which involves numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the five-county Tampa Bay area (see background information below). It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Port Richey Police Department.

It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey S. Downing.

Background information:

U.S. Department of Justice
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative (CAGI)

The purpose of this program is to reduce gang crime and violence through the implementation of three strategies:

1. Prosecution/enforcement strategies with the goal to reduce the occurrence of violent gang-related incidents through both reactive and proactive efforts supported by enforcement planning coordinated with federal, state, and local law enforcement and informed by data and real-time intelligence.
2. Prevention and intervention strategies directed at America's youth with the goal to reduce the occurrence of youth gang-related incidents and increase positive outcome for youth at high risk for gang involvement through targeted, evidenced based gang prevention.
3. Prisoner reentry strategies with the goal to increase public safety by reducing recidivism rates for high-impact gang involved offenders returning to the community through the use of vouchers, mentors, and community organizations (including faith-based) for the delivery of services and treatment.

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