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SALT LAKE CITY -- The U.S. Attorney's Office in Utah says 17 people affiliated with a gang have been indicted on charges related to racketeering and violent crimes such as robbery, carjacking and assault on a federal officer.
The office announced the indictment Wednesday after it was unsealed at a federal court hearing where 14 of the 17 charged made an initial appearance. The indictment alleges the 17 are members or associates of the Tongan Crip Gang. Mataika Tuai and Kepa Maumau are two of the members indicted.
"This will ensure that they will serve longer sentences and be an important step towards, again, dismantling the organization," acting U.S. Attorney for Utah Carlie Christensen said Wednesday afternoon in a press conference.
Nine of the 17 are charged with conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity.
The indictment returned by a federal grand jury last week lists 29 counts and alleges the gang is a criminal organization that engaged in acts of violence -- such as convenience store robberies -- to expand its operations. The crimes allegedly occurred starting in 2002.
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Story compiled with contributions from The Associated Press and Amanda Butterfield.
