Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Over the course of more than four hours Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Veda Travis meticulously laid out her case to the jury, summarizing four weeks worth of evidence.
"The Tongan Crip Gang is a criminal enterprise that exists for criminal purposes," she said. "TCG's common purpose is committing crime, particularly robberies."
The prosecutor took the bulk of the day in U.S. District Court Judge Tena Campbell's courtroom presenting her closing arguments in the racketeering case. Defense attorneys for the seven remaining men charged under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, known as RICO, were expected to have all day Tuesday to respond.
Whether formal or informal, Assistant U.S. Attorney Veda Travis was adamant that the gang is an organized enterprise with a common purpose — to commit crimes to further intimidate and garner power for the gang and individual members.
After establishing her stance on what the Tongan Crip Gang is, including its purposes and objectives, Travis outlined the evidence she said demonstrated each man's membership. She cited their tattoos, their aliases, identifications made by fellow gang members, police officers, experts, even themselves and photos of some of them flashing hand signs.
"The core of the enterprise has to have been the same throughout," Travis said. "The continuity of the TCG colors, the continuity of the family monikers, the continuity of the tattoos and ongoing commission of robberies."
Whether formal or informal, Travis was adamant that the gang is an organized enterprise with a common purpose — to commit crimes to further intimidate and garner power for the gang and individual members. She said the "senseless violence" spanned 2003 to 2008 and included a string of beer runs at local convenience stores, armed robberies at fast-food chains, a local Walmart, even an area parking garage.
The government says the acts add up to a racketeering conspiracy.
In 2007, there were two shootings, one of them fatal. A member of the Tongan Crip Gang "committed some transgression" — either he was informing a rival gang or simply wanted out of the gang life — and was shot and killed. The shooter was never identified and no charges were filed, Travis said.
"As a member of TCG, you are only as feared as your last violent act," Travis said. "Fear is power and TCG members seek power."
As a member of TCG, you are only as feared as your last violent act. Fear is power and TCG members seek power.
–Assistant U.S. Attorney Veda Travis
In a 2003 robbery, a 7-Eleven employee was beaten to the point that his ear had to be reattached, in addition to suffering a concussion and three bruised ribs. Travis replayed surveillance videos, 911 tapes, telephone calls and recounted police interviews and reports to support the government's charges.
She also pointed to pleas that have been entered in the state court system.
The trial focuses on about 30 crimes allegedly committed by Eric Kamahele aka "Smooth," David Kamoto aka "D-Down," Daniel Maumau aka "D-Loc," Kepa Maumau aka "Kap- Loc," Sitamipa Toki aka "Tok-Loc," Mataika Tuai aka "Fish" and David Walsh aka "D-Nutt."
Charles Moa, aka "Slim-Loc," was also listed as a defendant in the case and was on trial until last week, when the judge granted a motion of acquittal on the grounds that there was not sufficient evidence to show that Moa acted in a way that would maintain or enhance the man's position in the Tongan Crip Gang.
The men were among 17 suspected TCG members indicted last year. Five have reached plea agreements with prosecutors and four others are scheduled for trial next year.
In opening arguments, their various defense attorneys reminded jurors to consider each man and each act individually and not make assumptions. After the attorneys have each been allowed to argue on behalf of their clients, the government will make rebuttal remarks and then the case will be in the hands of the jury.
Email:emorgan@ksl.com
