Everybody knows everybody in the hood.. Someone drove by in a black car and a bullet came my way, he says. And nowhere is that more glaringly evident than in the former Swinglesvillean area that some police officers are now calling Gang Land. 1 of 9 The Carriage Way apartment complex, photographed one week after an FBI takedown, was home to a sex trafficking operation by the Southwest Cholos in the Gulfport section of Houston between . A Houston man believed to be affiliated with the Southwest Cholos pleaded guilty Tuesday to running security operations at several brothels in Houston's Gulfton neighborhood as part of a family-run, international sex trafficking ring. I realize Im holding my breath. Around their waists are cloth belts, the ends so long they reach down to their knees, and hanging around their necks are crosses or rosaries. Sometimes the color of the tennis shoes is the same. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER I return to southwest Houston and head to the apartment where Alex is staying. I cried like a baby when she was taken away from me.. ), To the surprise of everyone at Youth Advocates, Alex had shown up at the Youth Advocates building off Interstate 45, far from the southwest neighborhood. All are charged in varying counts to include multiple conspiracy counts; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud or coercion; transportation to engage in prostitution; enticing or coercing another to travel in interstate commerce for prostitution; transportation of illegal aliens; importation of aliens for immoral purposes; possession with the intent to distribute heroin; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamines; illegal dealing of firearms; felon in possession of a firearm; illegal re-entry; false statements; and aggravated identity theft. Those arrested in the Houston area are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson at 10:00 a.m. today. His killers, who were reportedly members of La Tercera Crips, drove away, only to return a few minutes later to shoot him again while he lay unconscious in the parking lot, just to make sure he was dead. 1000 Louisiana, Ste. La Tercera Crips' color is blue, De Torres said. A lock ( As were having this conversation, were walking into a neighborhood pupusria, a restaurant that specializes in El Salvadoran food. Moreno-Reyna is one of 22 defendants facing federal charges in the sex trafficking operation ran by the Southwest Cholos in the Gulfton section of Houston between 2009 and 2017. We head out the door of the apartment and walk down the stairs and into the parking lot to my car. All of the defendants are indicted in the criminal scheme as alleged members or affiliates of the Southwest Cholos. During one of my trips in September to the neighborhood, I began hearing rumors that some of the Cholos had put out a hit on Alex. A Texas grand jury indicted 22 alleged members of the Southwest Cholos Ron Meinke of the West Belfort Property Owners Association said the presentation on gangs was "fabulous.". All are charged in varying counts to include multiple conspiracy counts; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud or coercion; transportation to engage in prostitution; enticing or coercing another to travel in interstate commerce for prostitution; transportation of illegal aliens; importation of aliens for immoral purposes; possession with the intent to distribute heroin; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamines; illegal dealing of firearms; felon in possession of a firearm; illegal re-entry; false statements; and aggravated identity theft. Signs & Symbols: Colors: Black bandana; SWC 13; Cartoon Cholo; 5 point star or crown; Pitchfork down; Black rosary; Long black belt; SW hand sign; Image Gallery: Southwest Cholos hand sign: Close : The Gang Threat : The Current Effort : We Need Your Help : The Threat : Why is it so important to shoot someone because he came to your street and waved a ninety-nine-cent bandanna at you thats a different color from the bandanna you own? And they just look at meI swear to youlike Im the one whos the fool for even asking the question.. A law enforcement official told me that Alexs juvenile record, which by law he could not reveal, is far more impressive, involving a variety of thefts. She knew I was carrying out assignments to get rid of Cholos, but she still cared about me. It is true that in recent years MS-13 gang members from Central America have illegally crossed the border and gotten involved with one of the gangs already here. 60% of gang members will be dead or in prison by age 20. Still, they havent significantly changed the balance of gang warfare. The Cholos, in turn, mad dog him. southwest cholos rivals . He drove ABC13 to another piece of private property at Dora and Mckaskle, also defaced in a tagging battle. We had some Cholos come over here and shout, F Bissonet! But there was never a shortage of recruits. But instead of answering, he tells me a story about a girl he had met a year ago. She faces up tofive years to life in prison at her sentencing on July 27. They are good-looking kids, thin as reeds, with short dark hair and unblemished faces. The graffiti is like modern-day hieroglyphics, a highly stylized series of letters and numbers. This Houston rodeo food vendor wants you to eat his rattlesnake, Astros GM Dana Brown has more praise team's top prospect, Heres how you can watch 'Daisy Jones and the Six', Proposed Texas bill gives tax cuts to heterosexual families only, These bites won big at the Houston rodeo's foodie awards. Torres admitted in his plea agreement that he and his mother used proceeds from the trafficking ring to buy at least six properties in Houston that were used to facilitate the gang's operations, which included human smuggling and drug trafficking. HOUSTON - More than a dozen alleged members and associates of the Southwest Cholos street gang are set to appear in federal court on a variety of charges to include sex trafficking, drug trafficking, selling firearms, human smuggling and identity theft, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. So Sharpstown will likely avoid the fate of some areas that go all the way to bottom (such as nearby Fondren Southwest). I know what to do.. It provided them everything they could not find anywhere else., IN MANY WAYS, Alex is the classic gangbanger case study. And in broad daylight in early June, at least twenty gangbangers, many of whom lived in the apartments of southwest Houston, clashed at a public park. He says he was part of a team of MS-13 members who shot at a Cholo coming out of a party. They tell Tran their namesMiguel and Jose (like all the other juveniles in this story, their names have been changed)and then Tran informs them that Im a reporter and want to do an interview. They went to Central America somewhere, he says. Those charged with the drug trafficking also face up to life with a minimum of 10 years as possible punishment. For me, MS was the most important thing in my life. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. This is the only life I have. Some of the defendants also allegedly engaged in human smuggling separate from the sex trafficking scheme. Miguel has SWC (the initials for the Southwest Cholos) across his stomach, and Jose has the word Cholos stamped on the bicep of his right arm. Eddie Torres, 38, also known as Monterrey. The girls were branded "like cattle" with their pimps' names, and their families were threatened if they attempted to flee, according to a description given in a previous hearing by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Goldman. And here is one place where an option is presented to them of a life thats differenta life of pizza and listening to music and not having to think about drive-bys.. And if you see someone wearing another rag? I ask. In the heart of the neighborhood were the Latino gangs. . There is, for instance, no single leader or command structure within the Southwest Cholos, despite the fact that the gang operates mostly out of southwest Houston. A Houston man believed to be affiliated with the Southwest Cholos pleaded guilty Tuesday to running security operations at several brothels in . Gang Profile - Southwest Cholos. Two other Houston residents, Erik Ivan Alvarez-Chavez, 39, also known as Casa, and Denis Amaya Calballero, 25, also known asKeiko, were named defendants and were already in custody on related charges. Eddie Alejandro Torres, 40, admitted to conspiring to force, coerce or trick women into sex trafficking for his family . Maria Angelica Moreno-Reyna, 51, also known as Patty. "In this area, you are all doing good and I can't ask you to do any more other than watching movies like Colors.". What happens, say, if an MSer comes through here and throws down? Tran asks the Cholos. They took off their shirts and proceeded to beat him for a minute or two. F you, you punk! another Cholo had shouted. FBI agents say brought undocumented womenincluding a 14-year-old girl--across the border and forced them to work as prostitutes. Id have been dead a long time ago. Authorities have identified at least six trafficking victims, the youngest of whom was 14. A Houston man believed to be affiliated with the Southwest Cholos has pleaded guilty to charges related to several brothels in Houston's Gulfton neighborhood as part of a familyrun international sex trafficking ring. Alex, who knew nothing about the ill-fated love affair, says he went to a video store and rented three different versions of the movie. El Bolillo, he says, I mean no disrespect, but youll never get to do any drive-bys if you keep driving like that.. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. One of his lips is puffy. He shot a Cholo in a drive-by.. Blaring out of a boom box is a rap song that sounds like gunfire. And then I was gone. But the fing putos didnt see my knife, says Alex, El Rata. The following Houston residents werearrested on Tuesday and were scheduled to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson at 10a.m. Wednesday: Donna resident Grisel Salas, 34, also known asCris, and Mission resident Jose Ruben Palomo-Martinez, 48, were also arrested. A Houston native, Rebecca graduated from the University of Houston Honors College in 2016 with a bachelor's in print journalism and later joined the Chronicle in 2018. To my astonishment, they both shake my hand and politely say hello. Nine others are also charged but not as yet in custody. Is Fernando some sort of trained killer? I later ask Alex, thinking about some of the alarmist articles I had read about MS-13. The green corn tamales are a must between May and October, the . They maintained a secret relationship for several months. WikiLists is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. El Bolillo, Alex says, this is my life. Today the crape myrtles continue to bloom, but there are no more free VCRsand no disco. The decisions about the cliques activities are loosely made by the cliques OGs. The human smuggling charges carry a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, while those convicted in the illegal trafficking of firearms face another five years imprisonment. Mexico has been gripped by a drug war Credit: Getty The smuggled aliens paid substantial sums, including two Chinese nationals who each paid more than $40,000, according to the charges. "It is a major setback and it is like carrying a gun with no bullet. I want Alex to tell us he kept his head down, refusing to take the bait. One day, Alex took me to lunch with a young MS-13 member named Fernando who had just arrived from Guatemala. Alex regaled me with numerous stories of crimes he has committed for which he was not arrested. The indictment further alleges the defendants would tattoo their names or nicknames on the victims to identify them as their property and demonstrate control over them. Jose Luis Moreno, 23, also known as Lucky . According to Houston police, they are vicious, tattooed career criminals, their lives devoted to razors, knives, and guns. This placethis apartment complexis that important to you? I ask, unable to keep the surprise out of my voice. Fernandos working at a shirt embroidery shop in the neighborhood, making $6.50 an hour., After dropping out of high school, Alex had also worked at that shop, and hes also worked for his uncles roofing company, making $10 an hour. Heres what you need to know. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. Gabriela Gonzalez-Flores, 46, also known as Gabby. After arriving in Houston, however, victims were told they actually had to work as prostitutes in brothels the alleged gang members controlled. Id never known what that felt like. That phrase had been marked over and replaced with MS-13 Controla!. Menu $18.95. If I see a homeboy, he says, Wassup, niggah? And I say, Just blue rag hangin, or Its going blue, or Just throwing down the MS., (For reasons I could never quite understand, all the Hispanic gangbangers greet a fellow homeboy by calling him niggah.). . At the end of the beating, the OGs pulled him to his feet and hugged him. Source: Los Angeles Police Dept. Once I do my business, I get away, he says. Gabrielle Banks, who covers federal courts for the Houston Chronicle, reports that there are actually more brothels in Houston than Starbucks locations. Tran cannot help but grin at my baffled expression. Brown said the Texas Legislature in 1999 made it difficult for law enforcement to identify a person as a gang member. Many of them are more violent than the homegrown Mara Salvatruchans. The mothers were uninvolved in their lives either because they were working day and night for minimum wage or because they were dealing with their own problemsoften drugs and alcoholand they were simply too broken-down to care. Maria Angelica "Patty" Moreno-Reyna walks into federal court Friday, Nov. 17, 2017, in Houston. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Texas A&M upset win clears path for UH to snag top overall seed, Turner: TEA is giving Houston ISD two optionsclose school or be taken over, Two ocelots were photographed crossing a road in rare South Texas sighting, Houston Rockets poised to reap benefits from Eric Gordon trade, Willie Nelson's new album is a lovely tribute to a fellow country legend, Why Johnson City in Texas Hill Country is the new, cooler Fredericksburg, Hiker captures 'once-in-a-lifetime' photo of wildlife at Brazos Bend State Park. If convicted, he faces a mandatory two years which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. The OGs were my heroes.. This is a carousel. We pass the three Cholosthey are on the right side of the car, not far from Alexs windowand he stares at them with a surly, challenging expression: Mad dogging, or murder mugging, is the term that the gangbangers use to describe such a look. We are in a neighborhood that is just a ten-minute drive south of the Galleria shopping mall, one of Houstons most famous landmarks. invitation to love poem analysis; how to take care of your soul sermon; list of largest unsupported domes in the world. Do you really think Im that loco to do a drive-by with an amateur?. It never, ever stops.. Will I be killed? The owners had planted crape myrtles by the front gates and offered free VCRs to renters who signed year-long leases. It wasnt long before the gangs also began appearing at the apartment complexes. The following nine other peoplewere charged but are not yet in custody: Reyna, William Alberto Lopez,Anadalit Duarte and Walter Lopez are Houston residents believed to be in Mexico. FBI agents say brought undocumented womenincluding a 14-year-old girl--across the border and forced them to work as prostitutes. Paleteros pedal their bicycles through the parking lots, past rusting cars, selling such treats as popsicles and spicy cucumbers out of the metal boxes tied to their handlebars. SouthWest Cholos Trece Gang is on Facebook. Apparently when Disneyland says no selfies, they mean it - even if you're a celebrity! Many large cities have an MS-13 gang. Las acusaciones van desde trfico . DeTorres said the gang cards and gang identification are based on color, dress, caps, jewelry, hair style, tattoos, shoes and shoelaces, bandannas, hand signs and graffiti. Tran gets out of the car and says, Hey, guys. They shrug and dont move. Thats bullshit. Gang violence, of course, has plagued American cities for decades. New street gang members do not want to join these groups because they will have to remain members of these gangs for life. These wars can last for months or even years. Self-admission by a gang member is not sufficient to include their name in the database, Brown said. Their jewelry is a black rosary. Among the tattoos on his arms is one that reads Smile Now, Cry Later, which he says he received to commemorate the gunning down of a rival gangbanger. Eddie Alejandro "Monterrey" Torres, second from right, walks into federal court Friday, Nov. 17, 2017, in Houston. Southwest Cholos hand sign Southwest Cholos hand sign : Join Our Neighborhood Gang Watch : Emergencies - Call 911 Non-Emergency Contacts: Gang Member Facts. The self-governing island plans to shut down its last atomic power stations by 2025, threatening more emissions and greater vulnerability to a blockade by China. The chavala: slang for the enemy. The three males are members of the Southwest Cholos, a Hispanic neighborhood gang made up mostly of young men whose parents are native-born Mexican Americans or immigrants from Mexico. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open. Two more defendants Erik Ivan Alvarez-Chavez aka Casa, 39, and Denis Amaya Calballero aka Keiko, 25, both of Houston - were already in custody on related charges and are expected to make their appearances in federal court in the near future. Those arrested during the enforcement actions yesterday include Houston residents Giovani Alecio aka Whiteboy, 26, Victor Javiel Gonzalez, 29, Maria Angelica Moreno-Reyna aka Patty, 51, Gabriela Gonzalez-Flores aka Gabby, 46, Eddie Torres aka Monterrey 38, Jose Luis Moreno aka Lucky, 23, Gilberto Espinoza Garcia, 49, Hector Reyna aka Pantera, 26; Jimmy Mejia Chavez, 33; and Grisel Salas aka Cris, 34, of Donna; and Jose Ruben Palomo-Martinez, 48, of Mission.
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