January 16, 2008

ICE-led Violent Gang Task Force investigation results in the arrests of two area violent gang members who threatened law enforcement via a YouTube video

MIAMI - Two men who threatened members of the Miami-Dade Police Department's Special Investigation Gang Unit (SID) were arrested here today following a joint initiative led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents and worked jointly with officers of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD).

Rudy Villanueva and Tony Logan, both of Miami, were arrested for violations to Title 18, United States Code (USC), Section 922(g)(1) and Title 18, USC 922(d)(1). The arrests stem from a Multi-Agency Gang Task Force (MAGTF) investigation that identified Villanueva and Logan as members of a local violent criminal street gang dubbed "Bird Road Boys."

Villanueva, who is the reputed leader of the gang, goes by the name "King Bird Road." According to the complaint affidavit, task force members discovered that a video of Villanueva and Logan was uploaded on Jan. 3, 2008, onto the public video database "YouTube" for public viewing. In the video, entitled "Bird Road Getting in Trouble," Villanueva and Logan brandish firearms. Specifically, Villanueva brandishes a shotgun and an assault rifle, and Logan brandishes handguns and pulls the trigger several times. During the video, Villanueva and Logan made threats to the Miami-Dade Police Department Gang Unit. Villanueva stated, "Metro Dade Gang Unit, here I am baby" and claimed that "we's out here fighting a cold war" and that "they come at us if they want to." Logan told the police to "come get it, . . ." and flashed gang signs while pulling the triggers of the handguns.

Based on this information, on Jan. 15, 2008, task force members executed a warrant to search Logan's residence. During the search, investigators found and seized, among other things, a Mossburg shotgun, an AK-47 semi-automatic rifle, a Colt .45-caliber pistol, a Barreta .40-caliber pistol and a Smith and Wesson .357 pistol, 780 rounds of .762 ammunition, and a small amount of .45-caliber, .40-caliber and .375-caliber ammunition. The shotgun and AK-47 appear to be identical to the firearms displayed by Villanueva in the video.

According to the complaint affidavit, a criminal record check revealed that Villanueva has three prior felony convictions, in 1996, 2003 and 2004, respectively. Accordingly, he is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms.

"This case is a prime example of how law enforcement agencies come together to remove violent criminals from our neighborhoods," said Anthony V. Mangione, special agent-in-charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Miami. "These arrests are a testament to the great working relationship between ICE and the state and local governments to remove gang members from our communities."

United States Attorney Alex Acosta stated, "Villanueva and Logan threatened law enforcement. They brandished weapons and told us, 'here I am baby..... Come get us if you want.' Villanueva said come get me, and we did. We will not tolerate gang threats to our police officers."

"The Miami-Dade Police Department acknowledges the necessity and is proud of the excellent working relationship we have established with the U.S. Attorney's Office, ICE, ATF and other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Working together, law enforcement can and will continue to make a positive difference. The citizens of our community can rest assured that gang activity will not be tolerated in Miami-Dade County," said Director Robert Parker, Miami-Dade Police Department.

The arrest of Villanueva and Logan was part of ICE's Operation Community Shield launched in Feb. 2005 to address the threat posed by violent street gangs, including foreign-born nationals.  Since that time, ICE has been targeting all violent gang members nationwide by using its various federal authorities to arrest and prosecute gang members involved in criminal activities.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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