Colorado & Denver News

by Rick Sallinger
DENVER (CBS4/AP) ― Federal, state and Denver-area authorities said Thursday they arrested 49 people accused of distributing drugs and firearms after an 18-month investigation into several gangs. CBS4 News reported earlier on Thursday that several of those arrested are believed to be associates of gang leader Brian Hicks.

Hicks is at the center of an investigation involving the murder of a witness in an attempted murder case and also the killing of Denver Broncos player Darrent Williams.

"It may be wishful thinking on the part of a lot of Denverites to hope that it has something to do with Darrent Williams' murder, but I think that's a reasonable possibility," said Craig Silverman, a former Denver Chief Deputy DA.

CBS4 first heard about the sweep Wednesday night, but authorities asked CBS4 to hold off on reporting the information until this time so as to not jeopardize the investigation.

More than 450 local and state police officers as well as some officers from Texas and New Mexico took part in the arrests. Authorities said they seized $1.4 million in cash as well as 42 guns. A grand jury indicted a total of 50 people in the case. The only one who wasn't arrested is believed to be out of the country.

"It's going to cause a lot of these guys to really start to think 'what do they do?'" said Rev. Leon Kelly, a local anti-gang activist. "What do they need to do."

"The threat of violence among those who deal in illegal drugs is well known, and that threat has spilled over into the lives of innocent people. I firmly believe today's arrests have prevented future violent crime," said Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrisey.

Officials said those arrested ranged from kingpins to lower-level dealers. Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates said the suspects are "the worst of the worst."

"Thanks to the largest combined law-enforcement operation in Colorado history, a time of reckoning is finally at hand for members and associates of two of Denver's most notorious street gangs. Today's gang takedown ... has made Denver a safer place," said U.S. Atty. Troy Eid.

Hicks was scheduled to go on trial Monday, but that was suddenly postponed until September.

CBS4 has also learned that Hicks himself is now charged with distribution of crack cocaine as part of an indictment released Thursday. He has been at the center of two major murder investigations even though he was in jail when both crimes occurred.

• The first was the murder of Lonnie Clark. She was to be the key witness against Hicks in an attempted murder case.

• The second was the murder of Williams on New Year's Eve. The car recovered in that case sought by police was registered to Hicks.

These raids cap an 18 month investigation to gang activity by the Department of Justice, the Metro Gang Task Force, the U.S. Attorney, the FBI, DEA, ATF as well as Denver and Aurora police.

No one is being charged in connection with the Clark or Williams murders at this time. Many of those taken into custody Thursday have been indicted on federal drug charges.

Willie Clark, a longtime friend of Hicks', was arrested earlier this year on parole violation charges and named as a "person of interest" in the Darrent Williams murder.

"It's no secret that they think it's gang related," Silverman said. "This massive indictment of gang members that could very well be connected to the murder of Darrent Williams."

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(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)