The city of Los Angeles, which is arguably the national gang epicenter, has developed a new tactic to use against gangs, cash damages.
The city announced Tuesday that it had won its first civil judgment, for $5 million, against the 5th and Hill gang that had dominated the heroin trade in downtown LA for decades.
The verdict could bode well for another first-of-its-kind lawsuit the city filed last month against 18th Street Gang members that goes after all the assets of gang leaders, not just those associated with their criminal activity.
- Both suits will funnel money back into improving the neighborhoods affected by the gangs through a fund.
- The civil suits were filed under different amendments to state laws, one passed in 2007 and one in 2008, designed to strengthen authorities' ability to control gangs.
The 2007 amendment allows law enforcement to seize assets associated with criminal conduct.
- But the 2008 law goes even further – it allows prosecutors to collect damages from gang members' personal assets, too.
- The December suit against the 18th Street gang is the first to make use of the 2008 amendment.
- The City Attorney's office says it is moving against the 18th Street gang on behalf of residents who can't file suit themselves because they can't afford the expenses and they fear retaliation.
Gangs control certain neighborhoods by exacting so-called "street taxes" on home and business owners as well as street vendors. It names nestine leaders of the 18th Street gang, which has operated for years in the Pico-Union and Westlake areas.
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