Nine People Linked to Denver Lane Bloods Criminal Street Gang Indicted on Federal Charges of Distributing Crack Cocaine

LOS ANGELES – Federal and local law enforcement authorities this morning arrested four members and associates of the Denver Lane Blood criminal street gang on federal narcotics charges.

The four arrested this morning are among nine people named in federal criminal indictments. In addition the four arrested today, two of the nine federal defendants were already in custody, and authorities have contacted one defendant who will be arraigned at a later date. Authorities are continuing to search for two fugitives.

The arrests are the result of five indictments returned last month by a federal grand jury. The indictments all allege sales of crack cocaine and specifically charge the defendants with distributing cocaine base (crack cocaine). Three of the indictments also allege conspiracies to distribute crack cocaine.

“Gang crime and narcotics distribution represent a serious threat to public safety,” said United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. “Today’s operation sends a powerful message that gang activities and drug crimes have serious consequences. Combating gang activity contributes to the well being and safety of neighborhoods where residents should be able to live their lives free of the scourge of illegal drugs.”

This morning’s arrests are the result of a two-year investigation into the gang’s illegal activity conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Los Angeles Police Department.

“ATF will continue working side by side with our local partners to aggressively pursue gang members who commit crimes in our communities,” said Steven J. Bogdalek, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Los Angeles Field Division. “This joint investigation is a great example of what our partnerships can achieve in removing gang members from our communities, which will result in keeping the communities safe.”

This morning’s law enforcement operation included the execution of arrest warrants, as well as parole and probation violation searches by local authorities.

The defendants whose federal charges were unsealed today are:

    Damone Giles, 34, of Long Beach, who is a fugitive;

    Darrell Sanford, 29, of Hawthorne, who was arrested this morning;

    Reginald Sanford, 35, of Compton, who is Darrell Sanford’s brother and who will be summoned to appear in federal court later this month;

    Rodney Longmire, 29, of Lynwood, who was arrested this morning;

    Quincy Giles, 30, of Los Angeles, who is Damone Giles’ brother and who was already in local custody;

    James Madison, 40, of Inglewood, who is a fugitive;

    Marcus Washington, 40, of Los Angeles, who was arrested this morning;

    Jermaine McClelland, 36, of Los Angeles, who was arrested this morning; and

    Luvvaughn Lovings McCoy, 35, of Los Angeles, who was already in local custody.

The defendants arrested this morning are expected to be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in Los Angeles.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

If convicted of the charges alleged in the indictments, the defendants would face various potential prison sentences, based on the amount of narcotics involves and prior criminal convictions. However, if convicted, each defendant charged as part of this investigation would face a sentence up to 40 years in federal prison, with mandatory minimum sentences of at least five years in federal prison.