Posted on Fri, Jan. 20, 2006
NUESTRA FAMILIA STILL IN BUSINESS
Leaders' prison transfers shift, confuse balance of power among feared gang's street operatorsBy JULIA REYNOLDS and GEORGE SANCHEZHerald Staff WritersThe transfer of five Nuestra Familia generals and captains to federal prison last month caused a dramatic shift in the gang's leadership, but police say little has changed on Monterey County streets.
The shift at the top hasn't stopped the "organized work of the Nuestra Familia" in the area, said Salinas police Lt. Manny Perrien.
"The people on the streets, the soldiers, are still taking care of business," he said.
The gang continues to have a role in organized robberies and the drug trade, controlling heroin sales in areas such as Chinatown in Salinas.
"Those things are pretty firm regardless of the top. Whether the general is in Colorado or Northern California, the day-to-day operation is still happening," Perrien said.
But at higher levels, there is evidence of strife as the gang splits into two divisions -- state and federal.
The transfer of the leaders, said Devan Hawkes, a gang investigator at Pelican Bay prison, has already sown confusion among Nuestra Familia members. New California leadership has emerged at the prison, but Hawkes said members on the streets are unsure whether they should take orders from the old leaders in federal custody or a new general in Pelican Bay. Leadership "conflicts" have developed in Salinas, San Jose and San Francisco.
"There is currently an investigation by the (Nuestra Familia) into loyalties in Salinas and within other prisons," Hawkes said.
Today, David "DC" Cervantes of Chino is the sole general at the head of the Nuestra Familia in Pelican Bay, Hawkes said. Cervantes has taken charge of Monterey County operations.
Another general, James "Conejo" Perez, has been demoted, though investigators are not sure why.
Four captains have been placed in charge of various regions, investigators said: Antonio "Chuco" Guillen, 39, from San Jose, said to be responsible for NF operations in Santa Clara County; George "Puppet" Franco, 39, from San Jose, responsible for Stockton, Tracy and Fresno; Jose Armando "Huero" Gonzalez, a longtime captain, and Shawn "Bubbles" Cameron, 29, of Hanford.
Though the transfer from one supermax prison to another may have only shifted the problem out of state, Hawkes said the move was still worthwhile.
"How they address the Nuestra Familia in the federal prisons, I don't know, but with them gone, it really gave us the opportunity to step up our efforts," Hawkes said. "They had to reorganize and restructure."
More important, he said, communication between Pelican Bay and the street has been hindered.
"Communication is their biggest problem right now, and a lot of what they're communicating is not getting where they want it."
NUESTRA FAMILIA STILL IN BUSINESS
Leaders' prison transfers shift, confuse balance of power among feared gang's street operatorsBy JULIA REYNOLDS and GEORGE SANCHEZHerald Staff WritersThe transfer of five Nuestra Familia generals and captains to federal prison last month caused a dramatic shift in the gang's leadership, but police say little has changed on Monterey County streets.
The shift at the top hasn't stopped the "organized work of the Nuestra Familia" in the area, said Salinas police Lt. Manny Perrien.
"The people on the streets, the soldiers, are still taking care of business," he said.
The gang continues to have a role in organized robberies and the drug trade, controlling heroin sales in areas such as Chinatown in Salinas.
"Those things are pretty firm regardless of the top. Whether the general is in Colorado or Northern California, the day-to-day operation is still happening," Perrien said.
But at higher levels, there is evidence of strife as the gang splits into two divisions -- state and federal.
The transfer of the leaders, said Devan Hawkes, a gang investigator at Pelican Bay prison, has already sown confusion among Nuestra Familia members. New California leadership has emerged at the prison, but Hawkes said members on the streets are unsure whether they should take orders from the old leaders in federal custody or a new general in Pelican Bay. Leadership "conflicts" have developed in Salinas, San Jose and San Francisco.
"There is currently an investigation by the (Nuestra Familia) into loyalties in Salinas and within other prisons," Hawkes said.
Today, David "DC" Cervantes of Chino is the sole general at the head of the Nuestra Familia in Pelican Bay, Hawkes said. Cervantes has taken charge of Monterey County operations.
Another general, James "Conejo" Perez, has been demoted, though investigators are not sure why.
Four captains have been placed in charge of various regions, investigators said: Antonio "Chuco" Guillen, 39, from San Jose, said to be responsible for NF operations in Santa Clara County; George "Puppet" Franco, 39, from San Jose, responsible for Stockton, Tracy and Fresno; Jose Armando "Huero" Gonzalez, a longtime captain, and Shawn "Bubbles" Cameron, 29, of Hanford.
Though the transfer from one supermax prison to another may have only shifted the problem out of state, Hawkes said the move was still worthwhile.
"How they address the Nuestra Familia in the federal prisons, I don't know, but with them gone, it really gave us the opportunity to step up our efforts," Hawkes said. "They had to reorganize and restructure."
More important, he said, communication between Pelican Bay and the street has been hindered.
"Communication is their biggest problem right now, and a lot of what they're communicating is not getting where they want it."
