News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 16, 2006
Contact: Casey McEnry
415-436-7994

Local Operation Nets 24 Arrests; 3 Individuals Remain At Large
Suspected Gang Members, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, ‘Ice’ and Firearms Nabbed

Outstanding state arrest warrants remain for three individuals:
Sala Thorn, aka “Sly”	Damarcus Nelson, aka “Cupcake”	Tanaya Williams

NOV 16 -- (SAN FRANCISCO, CA) – Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Javier F. Peña, San Francisco Police Chief Heather Fong, San Francisco District Attorney Kamala D. Harris and Northern District of California United States Attorney Kevin V. Ryan announce today the culmination of a 5 month long investigation targeting drug dealers and gang members in San Francisco. As a result of the investigation law enforcement arrested 24 individuals, many of whom were suspected members of the Chopper City and Knockout Posse (“KOP”) street gangs.

In addition to the arrests, law enforcement seized approximately 5 pounds of heroin, 4 pounds of ‘ice’ methamphetamine, 3 pounds of crack cocaine, 2.5 pounds of cocaine HCL, 2 vehicles, 3 firearms and a ballistic vest. The street value of all the drugs combined approximately $322,000.

At the request of San Francisco Police Chief Heather Fong, a team of special agents from the DEA known as a Mobile Enforcement Team (MET) – were deployed in June 2006 to target drug trafficking organizations and gangs operating in San Francisco’s Western Addition and Bayview Districts.

“Mobile Enforcement Teams were designed to hit hard, fast and accurately. The results of this collaborative crackdown speak for themselves. It was an honor to work with San Francisco’s Police Department and District Attorney’s Office in an effort to stop drug trafficking and violent crime in the Western Addition and Bayview Districts,” stated SAC Javier F. Pena.

Of the 27 individuals indicted and/or indicted in this investigation, 19 were the result of state prosecution, while 8 have been the result federal prosecution. Outstanding state arrest warrants remain for three individuals, Damarcus Nelson, aka “Cupcake”, 32, Sala Thorn, aka “Sly”, 31, and Tanaya Williams, 19, all of San Francisco.

This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, San Francisco Police Department, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement.

This case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of California and the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. The charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Individuals Arrested
Federal Prosecution

Inlcudes Charges of Possession and/or Distribution of Crack and/or
“Ice” Methamphetamine and/or Cocaine and/or Heroin

State Prosecution
Includes State Drug Violations, Outstanding Warrants, State Firearm Violations,
and/or Probation Violations and other charges

Fugitives
The following individuals are wanted by authorities