21 arrested in Milwaukee in nationwide gang investigation
By Georgia Pabst of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Jan. 27, 2010
The suspected leader of the Mexican Posse street gang was among 21 people arrested in the Milwaukee area as part of a nationwide initiative called “Project Big Freeze,” which has led to the arrest of 476 suspects across the country, federal officials announced Wednesday.
Working with local and state officials, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement led the operation, which took place in 83 cities across the country focusing on gangs with ties to drug trafficking organizations, said Gail Montenegro, speaking for the immigration agency in Chicago.
Of the 21 arrested in metro Milwaukee between Jan. 19 and Jan. 21, 14 are in ICE custody and pending removal proceedings, she said. The remaining seven were arrested by Milwaukee police on outstanding warrants and state drug charges, she said.
The 14 in ICE custody are Mexican nationals who are members or associates of the Mexican Posse street gang, she said. Twelve of the 14 are in the U.S. illegally, and two are lawful permanent residents whose criminal convictions render them eligible for deportation, she added.
Most of those arrested here have extensive criminal histories, she said.
Among those arrested is a 40-year-old illegal immigrant believed to be the leader of the Mexican Posse gang in Milwaukee. He has prior convictions for drug possession and was previously arrested for attempting to flee from law enforcement, Montenegro said in a news release.
Another of those arrested is a 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico who as a member of the Mexican Posse has a criminal record that includes convictions in Milwaukee for theft of movable property and additional arrests for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, carrying a concealed weapon and violating a restraining order, she said.
Both men are in ICE custody pending removal from the United States, she said.
“Street gangs pose a growing public safety threat to communities throughout the Milwaukee metropolitan area,” said Gary Hartwig, special agent in charge of the ICE office of investigations in Chicago, which oversees Wisconsin.
At a news conference Wednesday on the south side, Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn said those arrested are responsible for dozens of crimes on the south side, largely crimes involving drugs and weapons, but including aggravated assault, burglary, street robbery and various other crimes.
Police Officer Evelyn Lazo and Detective Thomas Obregon of the department’s intelligence unit had both been investigating the Mexican Posse when the department learned that ICE’s “Project Deep Freeze” investigation was in the planning stages, Flynn said. More than 30 Milwaukee police officers and detectives worked on the case with ICE, he said.
“Our strong working relationship with our federal partners like ICE allows us to conduct operations that help us get dangerous criminals off our streets and keep us on track with our mission to reduce crime, fear and disorder,” Flynn said.
Nearly half of those arrested nationwide during this operation were members or associates of gangs with ties to drug trafficking operations in Mexico, South America and Asia, Montenegro said.
Transnational street gangs have significant numbers of foreign national members and are frequently involved in human smuggling and trafficking, narcotics smuggling and distribution, identity theft and benefit fraud, money laundering, weapons smuggling and arms trafficking, cyber crimes and other crimes that intersect with the border, she said.
Like other street gangs, these transnational gangs have a propensity toward violent crimes, including robbery, extortion, assault, rape and murder, she added.
Of the 476 arrested, 151 were U.S. citizens. The others who are foreign nationals face deportation either now or when their criminal prosecution is complete, she said.
