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Activity by gangs in military is rising
By Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times
Report Released: 03/31/2007 twelve:00:00 AM MDT

The infiltration of gangs into the U.S. military is not only a increasing worry in El Paso but is also deemed a possible menace to countrywide security and regulation enforcement.

Weapon thefts, homicides and even the look of U.S. street-gang graffiti on military equipment in Iraq are amongst crimes showcased in a National Gang Intelligence Middle report on gangs in the military.

The report mentions Fort Bliss.

The issue of gang members in the military was elevated Friday by El Paso County Legal professional José Rodríguez at a gang investigators seminar at Burges Higher College.

“We nonetheless have a gang difficulty right here in El Paso (even if) it is not as significant as L.A. or San Antonio,” said Rodríguez, whose company was behind the city’s civil injunction that specific the Barrio Azteca gang.

Given that 2004, the FBI and El Paso Police Department have recognized much more than 40 suspected military-affiliated members of the Folks Nation gang alliance stationed at Fort Bliss, mentioned the Jan. twelve report by the Countrywide Gang Intelligence Center.

“As far as gangs
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in the military, they do have gangs in the military. As far as Fort Bliss is concerned, we are making an attempt to discover gang members in Fort Bliss,” explained Sgt. Reginald Moton of the El Paso Police Gang Unit.

A Fort Bliss spokeswoman referred concerns to the Army Criminal Investigations Division in Washington, D.C., which could not be arrived at for comment late Friday.

In accordance to police figures, 492 energetic street gangs, get together crews and other groups in El Paso have 4,657 members.

The nationwide intelligence middle report, titled “Gang-Connected Activity in the U.S. Armed Forces Increasing,” lists a homicide that El Paso police gang investigators said on Friday could have links to the Chicago-based mostly People Nation.

In December 2004, Jamal Ra shad Davis allegedly shot and killed 19-yr-old Jurell Battles throughout a combat in Northeast El Paso.

Davis, now 23, was a Fort Bliss Army private with the 286th Signal Business of the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.

Investigators suspect Davis may possibly also had ties to the Folks Nation. Davis’ trial is pending.

The Folk Nation is explained as an alliance of gangs, although the group, in accordance to member weblogs, describes itself as a family members dedicated to the development of its members.

The intelligence center report, which is labeled “unclassified/regulation-enforcement delicate,” mentions that members of rival gangs often place aside variations even though in the military.

“Rival gang members stationed at Fort Bliss, for instance, have joined forces to commit assaults on civilian gang members,” the document mentioned.

The report also states that some gang members join the military to escape the gang way of life but other individuals preserve gang connections intact.

“The extent of gang presence in the armed solutions is typically challenging to figure out, because many enlisted gang members conceal their gang affiliation. … The military enlistment of gang members could eventually lead to a around the world expansion of U.S.-based mostly gangs,” the document warned.

The report also cautioned that military-dependent kids might be targeted by gangs for membership simply because “the transient nature of their households often can make them really feel isolated, vulnerable and in require of companionship.”

The influx of 20,000 new soldiers and their families to Fort Bliss in the coming decades has regional law enforcement viewing for possible difficulties.

Some of the new soldiers are transfers from Fort Hood, Texas. El Paso police sent investigators to Killeen due to the fact it had witnessed troubles with military-affiliated gangs from Fort Hood.

In 2005, the Temple Every day Telegram documented of a trial of an Army sergeant stationed at Fort Hood who was the reputed leader of the Gangsters Disciples Killeen chapter that was involved in armed robberies, drug dealings and identity theft. The Gangsters Disciples are aspect of the People Nation.

The huge amount of new arrivals has El Paso authorities maintaining view for any likely issues.

“Obviously with all the troops coming in, the FBI has been gathering intelligence with what kind of gang activity may be coming in with these troops. We want to be geared up,” said El Paso FBI workplace spokeswoman Particular Agent Andrea Simmons.

“With the figures of men and women coming to El Paso affiliated with Fort Bliss — not just soldiers but dependents and new businesses — with any group you will have a couple of individuals who will be of the criminal mind-set,” Simmons mentioned.

Daniel Borunda could be attained at dborunda@elpasotimes.com 546-6102.

Solution by Larry
It has steadily gotten even worse and will keep on to get worse for as long as the folks of this state continue to apart from the failed ideology of multiculturalism and political correctness.

Reply by charlienoble92001
Like the police say: “Our gang is bigger than your gang.” This identical dilemma existed back when I was in the Navy 1975-1979.

I see it as a dilemma with the volunteer military, we do require the draft. AND we require an American Foreign Legion!

Response by sgreger1
Certainly, preserve in thoughts the individuals in the army are human and are just like everyone in the civilian planet. I am confident tehre are gangs in some locations, wouldnt shock me the elast bit. I am in the army and no a single I have actually heard or seen is in 1. Dont consider for a second that the army is the new East LA.

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