Denver FBI Makes One Of Largest Federal Drug Busts In Years

Just by the numbers, the FBI-led operation on Thursday that resulted in dozens of people being arrested was large. It was a 20-month operation involving 225 agents from 18 separate law enforcement agencies. There were SWAT teams from four police departments. Fifty-two people were named in eight indictments. Thirty-five people were arrested while the rest are fugitives.

The FBI says it was "one of the largest federal drug enforcement actions in the past decade."

The target of the operation was the gang known as the East Side Crips and they are charged with trafficking cocaine and crack cocaine throughout the Denver metro area.

"These gang members dealt cocaine and crack cocaine in open air drug markets, including near parks and public transportation centers – both areas where children and families congregate," the bureau said in a statement.

"The goal of this investigation is to remove poison, fear and danger from these places so they can be used again freely by the public."

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The gang's activities were focused in Five Points. They would sell at the light rail stations near East 26th Avenue as well around Curtis Park.

In addition to the arrests, agents seized a variety of property including: $80,000 in cash, three guns, 9 ounces of powdered cocaine, a Hummer, and a GMC Denali sport utility vehicle.

The lead defendants of each of the eight indictments are:

• Jerrell Birch (1 of 14 defendants);
• Rodrick Harris (1 of 4 defendants);
• Shedrick Wilford (1 of 6 defendants);
• Tamar Henry (sole defendant);
• Deon Jackson (sole defendant);
• Kiki Douglas (1 of 6 defendants); and
• Clarence Antoine and Spencer Antoine (2 of 22 defendants).

Three defendants are named in two different indictments and one indictment is still sealed.

"Today's arrests are indicative of the success that can be attained when agencies combine resources to attack violent street gangs," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Calvin Shivers. "Crimes of this nature cause our citizens to live in fear and threaten to destroy our neighborhoods. This cannot be tolerated.

"We are confident today's arrests will send a message to those contemplating committing these egregious acts that they will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law."

File photo: FBI