What do you think about what is happening to and in the U.S. Army?

Activity by gangs in military is increasing

By Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times

Article Launched: 03/31/2007 12:00:00 AM MDT

The infiltration of gangs into the U.S. military is not only a growing concern in El Paso but is also considered a potential threat to national security and law enforcement.

Weapon thefts, homicides and even the appearance of U.S. street-gang graffiti on military equipment in Iraq are among crimes featured in a National Gang Intelligence Center report on gangs in the military.

The report mentions Fort Bliss.

The issue of gang members in the military was raised Friday by El Paso County Attorney José Rodríguez at a gang investigators seminar at Burges High School.

"We still have a gang problem here in El Paso (even if) it is not as serious as L.A. or San Antonio," said Rodríguez, whose office was behind the city's civil injunction that targeted the Barrio Azteca gang.

Since 2004, the FBI and El Paso Police Department have identified more than 40 suspected military-affiliated members of the Folk Nation gang alliance stationed at Fort Bliss, stated the Jan. 12 report by the National Gang Intelligence Center.

"As far as gangs

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in the military, they do have gangs in the military. As far as Fort Bliss is concerned, we are trying to identify gang members in Fort Bliss," said Sgt. Reginald Moton of the El Paso Police Gang Unit.

A Fort Bliss spokeswoman referred questions to the Army Criminal Investigations Division in Washington, D.C., which could not be reached for comment late Friday.

According to police figures, 492 active street gangs, party crews and other groups in El Paso have 4,657 members.

The national intelligence center report, titled "Gang-Related Activity in the U.S. Armed Forces Increasing," lists a homicide that El Paso police gang investigators said on Friday could have links to the Chicago-based Folk Nation.

In December 2004, Jamal Ra shad Davis allegedly shot and killed 19-year-old Jurell Battles during a fight in Northeast El Paso.

Davis, now 23, was a Fort Bliss Army private with the 286th Signal Company of the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.

Investigators suspect Davis may also had ties to the Folk Nation. Davis' trial is pending.

The Folk Nation is described as an alliance of gangs, though the group, according to member blogs, describes itself as a family dedicated to the improvement of its members.

The intelligence center report, which is labeled "unclassified/law-enforcement sensitive," mentions that members of rival gangs often put aside differences while in the military.

"Rival gang members stationed at Fort Bliss, for instance, have joined forces to commit assaults on civilian gang members," the document stated.

The report also states that some gang members join the military to escape the gang lifestyle but others keep gang connections intact.

"The extent of gang presence in the armed services is often difficult to determine, since many enlisted gang members conceal their gang affiliation. ... The military enlistment of gang members could ultimately lead to a worldwide expansion of U.S.-based gangs," the document warned.

The report also cautioned that military-dependent children may be targeted by gangs for membership because "the transient nature of their families often makes them feel isolated, vulnerable and in need of companionship."

The influx of 20,000 new soldiers and their families to Fort Bliss in the coming years has local law enforcement watching for potential problems.

Some of the new soldiers are transfers from Fort Hood, Texas. El Paso police sent investigators to Killeen because it had seen problems with military-affiliated gangs from Fort Hood.

In 2005, the Temple Daily Telegram reported of a trial of an Army sergeant stationed at Fort Hood who was the reputed leader of the Gangsters Disciples Killeen chapter that was involved in armed robberies, drug dealings and identity theft. The Gangsters Disciples are part of the Folk Nation.

The huge number of new arrivals has El Paso authorities keeping watch for any potential problems.

"Obviously with all the troops coming in, the FBI has been collecting intelligence with what kind of gang activity may be coming in with those troops. We want to be prepared," said El Paso FBI office spokeswoman Special Agent Andrea Simmons.

"With the numbers of people coming to El Paso affiliated with Fort Bliss -- not just soldiers but dependents and new businesses -- with any group you will have a few folks who will be of the criminal mind-set," Simmons said.

Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102.