Wingert said officers are prepared to identify and target any gang members who may replace those put behind bars, with help from federal and state investigators. Three men thought to be rivals or targets of Clark and C-Block are also facing federal prison sentences, according to Friday's news release: Wingert said other gang members are being investigated. In a news release Friday, the prosecutor's office listed other "known" members of C-Block who have been charged or convicted: About 15 people with ties to C-Block, including two of its leaders, were arrested in an investigation that concluded last March. He was one of more than 20 arrested last summer by a special enforcement team set up by DMPD. they know who we're looking for and what they're involved in and what they're capable of."Ĭlark has served two stints in prison, Iowa Department of Corrections records show. "Our intelligence is better, our communication is at an all-time high internally," he said. "When our men and women hit the street to start their shift. He said he hopes young people influenced by or attracted to gangs or violent crime realize that a prison cell is where they are likely headed. The groups have some leadership, but that is not as important as the individual actions, Wingert said. Investigators, too, are making a concerted effort to find "straw purchasers" of firearms - incidents where people with clean backgrounds buy several weapons then distribute them to people who cannot legally obtain a gun. we're charging them with whatever crime we can prove to take them off the street." "We are using this tool to take people who are violent and maybe haven't been held accountable for that violence, for whatever reason, typically because it's difficult to get witnesses to cooperate in these cases . "We're using (the drug user in possession of a weapon charge) responsibly," Krickbaum said. Oftentimes, these guns are reported stolen before they end up in gangland shootings. Krickbaum said, in response, his office is picking up more firearms cases all across the state.
"What we can do is take a strategic approach to determining who's committing the violent crime in our communities and target those individuals." "We see them increase exponentially every year," he said. Wingert said more guns are on Des Moines streets than ever, but police cannot "arrest themselves" out of the problem. “The underlying message is, if you’re going to be involved in violent gun crime in central Iowa, this is how it’s gonna end: maximum sentencing without the opportunity for parole," Wingert said. Wingert said more arrests and charges are coming, adding that unity and coordination between prosecutors and officers "has never been better." "I want people to understand that the feds are taking (on) gun cases," he said. Krickbaum said people in the Des Moines crime scene probably do not know they can get federal prison time for using marijuana and possessing a weapon. Des Moines pastor calls 14-year-old son's shooting death a 'senseless act of violence'.'Their lives do matter': Family members reflect after Des Moines brothers killed in quadruple shooting.'They weren't just my boys, they were my best friends': Mother mourns losing 2 sons in Iowa triple-homicide.Police: Iowa man solicited nude photos from boys he met while online gaming."My son needs his father."įormer teachers and community members wrote in on his behalf, too, saying he is trying to right his wrongs and can still be a productive member of society.Ĭlark was also sentenced to three years of supervised release in relation to his sentence.Ī call to Clark's attorney was not returned Friday. "Before making your decision in sentencing Xzavier, please consider everyone this is effecting," one woman wrote.
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