3 Glendale gang members nabbed in nationwide sweep
By Josh Kleinbaum, Staff Writer

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Aug 2 2005

Federal officials announced Monday that three Glendale gang members
— two from Armenia and one from Mexico — were among 26 Southern
Californians arrested as part of a two-week nationwide immigration
enforcement operation targeting violent street gangs.

The men were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement personnel as part of Operation Community Shield, an
ongoing anti-gang initiative in which 582 people have been arrested
nationwide between July 16 and Thursday, federal officials said.

Officials would not release the names of the suspects because they
were arrested on suspicion of administrative immigration violations.

Two of the local men are members of Armenian Power, and the third is
a member of the Westside Locos — both violent street gangs in Los
Angeles County, officials said.

“ICE brings to gang investigation the unique ability to enforce
immigration laws and use that against some of these gang members
committing crimes in our communities,” said Steve Lovett, ICE’s
assistant special agent in charge. “These are either convicted felons,
they’ve entered without inspection or overstayed their visas.”

One of the Armenian men is 27 and has been living in the United
States since 1989. He has prior convictions for robbery and drug
possession. He was ordered deported in March 2000 but was released
under an order of supervision.

The second man arrested is 24 and has been in the United States since
1980. He has prior convictions for drug possession and spousal battery,
officials said.

Both are expected to be deported to Armenia, Lovett said.

The third Glendale resident, a 20-year-old member of the Westside Locos
with prior convictions for vandalism, vehicle theft and manufacturing a
dangerous weapon, is expected to be deported to Mexico, officials said.

“We’re trying to bolster the integrity of immigration laws, and a
good place to start is with gang members out there running roughshod
on communities, terrorizing people, filling the streets with crime,”
Lovett said.