A lengthy, multi-agency gang investigation in the Reno and Stockton areas led to the arrest of 23 people, including one correctional officer on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.
The gang in question, North Side Gangster Crips (NSGC), were identified through Operation Ceasefire, a unified effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to “bring justice to the small group of people in this community who fail to hear our message to put down their guns and to stop the violence,” the Stockton Police Department said in a press release. Operation Blue Storm was initiated in the later part of 2015 as a multi-agency investigation into the North Side Gangster Crips (NSGC) criminal street gang in Stockton.
These operations led authorities to search six locations in Reno, arresting 11 people, four of them known as NSGC members. The other 12 people arrested were in the Stockton, Calif., area.
The following is a list of people arrested in Reno, where they were found, and what evidence authorities found on them:
The 700 block of Peckham Blvd:
Rothel Satchell (Documented NSGC) was booked into Washoe County Detention Facility. When arrested, he was found with one gun, $1,100 in cash and scales.
The 700 block of Peckham Blvd:
Lamont Harper (Documented NSGC), Paul Harris (Documented NSGC), Labrea Harris and
Shantquell Lewis were all booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility
Evidence Located: 5 guns, $5,000, approx. 2.5 oz Heroin, approx. 2 oz Marijuana
1800 block of El Rancho Drive:
Tremel Battle (Documented NSGC), Lafontaine Ford, Joelvon Calbert, Teyjon Calbert and Altanea Green were arrested and booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility. Evidence Located: 1 gun, $7,200, approx 2 oz Heroin
800 block of Kuenzli Stret:
No evidence located and no arrests.
7000 block of Mae Anne Avenue:
Sherayne Allen was arrested with evidence located: gun magazine, scale, electronics.
4700 block of Sun Valley Blvd:
Evidence located: Empty gun case, gun mags. No arrests.
Police say that, during their investigation, they discovered that the NGSC street gang was involved in numerous shootings, robberies, illegal weapons violations, and narcotics sales activities.
The authorities described an operation where the gang members would buy large quantities of heroin, marijuana, prescription pills and promethazine in Stockton, and then drive to Reno to sell the drugs for a higher profit. Once in Reno, the police say the gang members would buy guns and the sell them in Stockton.
Not all guns would be sold, and gang members would save them for their own use, the Stockton Police said in a press conference after the arrests.
This investigation had assistance from the FBI in Stockton, San Joaquin County DA,
San Joaquin County DAI, Homeland Security, Tracy Police, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Alchol, Tobacco and Firearms, Drug Enforcement Agency, Federral Agencies from the State of Nevada and local law enforcement from Reno and the State of Nevada.
One of those arrested in Stockton was San Joaquin County Correctional Officer Ashley Johnson.
During the gang roundup, the Stockton Police Department gave the following summary:
• 4 were Documented NSGC gang members,
• 1 was a Documented Norteno gang members,
• 1 was on Post Release Community Supervision
Firearms Confiscated in Stockton: 6
Firearms Confiscated in Reno: 7
Narcotics Seized in Stockton:
• Marijuana grow and approximately 6 pounds of marijuana
• Approx. 3 oz of Cocaine,
• Approx. 9 oz of Heroin,
• Prescription meds,
• And 3 bottles of Promethazine
Narcotics Seized in Reno:
Approximately 4 oz of Heroin and approximately 2 oz of Marijuana
US Currency Seized in Stockton: $25,052
US Currency Seized in Reno: $13,300
CDCR conducted 5 searches at various prisons:
• 5 cell phones and gang paraphernalia were located.
A residence part of this investigation was searched on Wednesday April 5, 2017 in the 4400 block of Calandria. During this investigation, 6 firearms, $8,400, and marijuana for package was seized. Arrested was Harold Hill, a 53 year old man, and (2) 17-year-old males for narcotics and weapons.
Also during this investigation, they learned the NSGC were involved in at least four shooting incidents that would otherwise have gone unreported and unsolved. Follow up on the shootings led to the recovery of six firearms. Ballistics have determined that one gun came back to a shooting of a dwelling.
In addition, Investigators learned how members of the gang used the proceeds of their drug trade to illegally acquire more and better firearms, as well as the relationships between NSGC and other active criminal street gangs in Stockton.
Investigators also learned how members of the gang use non-member co-conspirators, including and especially female associates and family members, to facilitate their criminal enterprise through the purchase and transportation of narcotics and firearms and the concealment of contraband in their homes and vehicles.
Prior to yesterday’s take down, the investigation netted the recovery of 20 illegal possessed firearms, approx. 1 pound of Heroin – at an approximate street value of $16,000, and seized approx. $34,000 in cash.
– South Tahoe Now staff report