Ave Gang Arrests
Although we live relatively close to the the Ave and even head over there from time to time for cheap eats or discount athletic shoes we had no idea the place was living under the thumb of an East African gang. The owner of Schultzy's was on the TV last night and apparently he was also in the dark to the fact that he was behind on his protection money payments and claimed ignorance of any organized crime in the area. Of course the gang is actually involved in more modern-day activities such as drug distribution.
A bowl-full of alphabet soup agencies including the SPD, ATF and the FBI made six arrests related to the gang recently and netted a bunch of cash, coke and weapons. These recent arrestees are being charged with a slew of drug-related offenses, but previous members of the same group have been charged with kidnapping and prostitution as well. Other crimes that authorities hope to uncover are related to home invasion robberies, carjackings and shootings of which there have been a number recently in the UD. Two men who were named in an indictment last month are still at large and probably not at their usual haunt of University Way/Brooklyn and 50th.
From the Seattle Times:
In another recent case, three men, Daniel Malede Ambaw, Kahsay Mamo Abraha and Matthew Alex Erickson, were arrested in August on a 10-count indictment. The charges included allegations of drug violations, assault and kidnapping, including the kidnapping of a teenage girl and a woman who were taken from Everett to Los Angeles so they could become prostitutes, court documents say.
