13 July – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – Two Los Angeles men have each been sentenced to federal prison for more than 20 years for participating in a drug conspiracy responsible for the distribution of crack cocaine by members of the Blood Stone Villains street gang.
John D. Edwards Jr., 42, of Los Angeles (Mid-City), was sentenced to 27 years in prison this morning by United States District Judge Gary Klausner. Edwards, a founding member of the Blood Stone Villains gang, pleaded guilty in August 2004 to conspiring to distribute crack cocaine and powder cocaine. At one point during the conspiracy, Edwards was found with nearly one kilogram of powder cocaine, more than 200 grams of crack cocaine and more than $14,000 in drug proceeds. At the time of his arrest in June 2003, Edwards possessed more than 800 grams of crack cocaine.
Juan Emanuel Lococo, 34, of Los Angeles, was sentenced last week by Judge Klausner to 262 months in prison. Lococo pleaded guilty in August 2004 to participating in two drug trafficking conspiracies, including the conspiracy involving Edwards. During the conspiracies, Lococo sold kilogram quantities of powder cocaine that were later cooked into crack cocaine and distributed by Lococo’s co-defendants and other individuals. At the time of his arrest in June 2003, Lococo was found with more than 5 kilograms of powder cocaine.
The investigation resulted in the arrest of 28 individuals, 16 of whom were prosecuted on federal charges. All of Edwards’ and Lococo’s co-conspirators have pleaded guilty, and Judge Klausner has sentenced a number of them to prison terms ranging from 51 months to 132 months.
The Blood Stone Villains gang operates primarily within the Newton Division of the Los Angeles Police Department and is responsible for a significant amount of the violence within that area.
This case was the result of a long-term multi-agency investigation of violent street gangs operating primarily within South Los Angeles. The cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
