Almost a dozen members or associates two street gangs were arrested during a five-day sweep conducted in northern Colorado by federal and local law enforcement agencies.
U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement agents along with Loveland police conducted the operation which targeted individuals with ties to violent criminal street gangs, according to ICE.
A total of 11 men were arrested – seven from Mexico and four who are U.S. citizens.
ICE spokesman Carl Rusnok said in a statement that the sweep, which ended on April 30, was the latest effort to target foreign-born gang members and gang associates.
He said all the U.S. citizens had outstanding warrants and were booked into the Larimer County Jail.
The others are in ICE custody and are charged with administrative immigration violations and are awaiting deportation.
The news release said that all those arrested during the sweep have prior criminal histories including cruelty toward a child, domestic violence, theft, distributing/possessing controlled substances, assault, residential burglary, forgery and possessing forged documents.
Among those arrested was a 34-year-old man from Mexico who had two outstanding arrest warrants for domestic violence.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
