U.S. Moves to Crack Powerful Chicago Gang

CHICAGO —  Federal authorities moved Thursday to dismantle the leadership of one of the nation’s most highly structured street gangs, Chicago’s Gangster Disciples--a narcotics powerhouse that allegedly financed a political action committee that sponsored huge downtown rallies and at least two City Council candidacies.

Armed with indictments from a federal grand jury, police and federal agents made arrests throughout the city’s South Side and suburbs, as well as within the state prison system. The indictments allege that the gang, using two boards of directors (one inside prison and one outside), laundered money from its enormous crack, cocaine, heroin and marijuana empire through the PAC, known as 21st Century V.O.T.E. (for Voices of Total Empowerment).

The PAC has lobbied to get Gangster Disciples leader Larry Hoover, who was convicted in 1977 of ordering a drug dealer’s murder, paroled from prison, enlisting prominent Chicagoans such as former Mayor Eugene Sawyer in the effort. Hoover, 44, has been saying in recent years that he is a changed man, devoted to ending violence among black youth.

A 50-count indictment accuses him of masterminding the Gangster Disciples’ operations over the telephone from his prison cell. He was flown early in the day from Dixon, Ill., to Meigs Field here for a transfer to federal custody.

The indictments, which seek the forfeiture of $10 million in profits, reel off a quarter-century’s worth of crimes. In addition to Hoover, 38 others with nicknames like “Khadafi,” “Trouble” and “Governor Fool” are charged. One of the alleged co-conspirators, Sonia Irwin, is a Chicago police officer. Those indicted range in age from 21 to 48.

The gang’s ranking members required subordinates to buy narcotics from them at inflated prices and pay “street tax” on their sales, the court documents state. Those who did not, or who stole drugs or money, missed gang meetings, attracted police attention or failed to show respect for gang leaders were punished, the indictments say. Penalties ranged from fines to beatings with baseball bats to murder, the indictments say.

The PAC has allegedly been the beneficiary of a special “street tax” on both the Gangster Disciples drug sales force and non-member dealers in the gang’s territory. The forced payments are known as “the P,” for political money, according to the indictments.

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None of the members of the board of directors of 21st Century V.O.T.E. were indicted. They have said in the past that they accept gang members into their group and that they have visited Hoover in prison. They have been evasive about the source of their money. But they have denied that the Gangster Disciples are in control.

U.S. Atty. James B. Burns had this to say at a Thursday press conference about the relationship between the Gangster Disciples and 21st Century V.O.T.E.: “They run it.”

A man who answered the telephone later at 21st Century V.O.T.E. headquarters said: “No comment. I can’t make no comment,” and abruptly hung up.

Representatives of the 3-year-old PAC have been consulted by a mayoral candidate, civil rights groups and even President Clinton. Two men who had risen to prominent rank within the Gangster Disciples made it to runoff elections for seats on Chicago’s Board of Aldermen. Their showing last spring surprised the city’s power structure, though each was eventually defeated.

Another local community outreach group, Save the Children Inc., was also named in the indictment. The Gangster Disciples forced members and non-members alike “under threats of violence” to buy tickets to a concert that Save the Children promoted, the document says. Save the Children is run by Hoover’s wife, who was not indicted.

“These indictments should send a strong message to the community as to what [21st Century V.O.T.E.] and Save the Children really are,” said Cook County State’s Atty. Jack O’Malley.

O’Malley said the allegations “underscore the extreme danger of sophisticated gangs supplanting legitimate community groups and leaders.”

The investigation, begun in 1989, is continuing, Burns said.

The indictments paint, in very general strokes, a portrait of a group much more formal and hierarchical than Los Angeles street gangs.

A member of the Gangster Disciples, as described in court papers, must memorize and obey the gang’s laws. From the chairman--Hoover--and the others on the two boards, authority flows down to governors, regents and coordinators assigned to specific sections of Chicago and its suburbs. Money flows back up the ladder to the leaders.

The role played by Irwin--most recently assigned as a mass transit officer--was left unclear. “Her involvement was known to us for a long time,” said Police Supt. Matt Rodriguez.

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Federal prosecutors, narcotics investigators, tax and firearms agents, corrections officials and police joined forces for the probe. About 250 police officers and federal agents began Thursday’s sweeps, dubbed “Operation Headache,” about 5 a.m. CDT. The first raids netted 22 of those indicted. There was no violence, but there were moments it certainly seemed imminent.

At one neatly kept brick bungalow, nine law enforcement officers rang the doorbell and repeatedly shouted, “Police!” according to police spokesman Paul Jenkins, who was there. Defendant Charles Poteete, 29, screamed from inside: “ ‘I’m gonna kill you people! I’m gonna kill you!’ ” Jenkins said.

As authorities hammered at the glass in the back door and reached in to open the handle, Jenkins said, Poteete smashed a side window with his hands, apparently attempting to escape.

“He was very cooperative once we were in the house,” Jenkins said. “Very respectful. He knew some of the officers by name.”

Hoover, also known as “the King” and “the Chairman,” appeared calm at his midmorning arraignment, sharing a copy of the indictment with Gregory Shell, whose aliases include “Shorty G” and “Co-Chairman.”

If Hoover is convicted of the charges against him, he could face life in federal prison without possibility of parole. Several of the others could face similar sentences.

“We have taken down the head of the organization and all of his top people,” Burns said. “If we can keep all of them in prison for life without parole, it’ll make it substantially easier for us to control [the Gangster Disciples] on the outside.”

Times staff writer Ronald J. Ostrow in Washington and researcher John Beckham in Chicago contributed to this story.