Local News in Brief : Gang Members Convicted
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Two members of a Los Angeles street gang have been convicted in federal court in Seattle of a conspiracy to distribute “crack” cocaine in that city.
Sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 7 for Varian (Legs) Leonard and Kelvin (Eleven) Tiggs, who authorities identified as members of the Crips gang. Law enforcement officials say about 300 Los Angeles gang members have come to the Seattle area to deal crack cocaine in the last two years.
The trial was a test case for the indictments of 25 gang members through undercover work of a new local-federal task force launched in January for the specific purpose of cracking down on the influx of crack dealers from Los Angeles.
Half of those indicted have already pleaded guilty, including the alleged leader of the gang, Derrick (Vamp) Hargress, who was accused of shooting a 16-year-old youth near Seattle’s Garfield High School last October.
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