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FBI, police release list of 'Taliban' gang arrests
EPA-based 'Taliban' street gang was 'effectively dismantled' after an 18-month investigation

by Don Kazak
Palo Alto Online Staff

Posted by Resident, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2009 at 9:32 am

Taliban gang in EPA - now why doesn't that surprise me?

Posted by Condi, a resident of Stanford, on Mar 7, 2009 at 9:36 am

Are these folks associated in any way with Afghanistan, or are they just street thugs calling themselves "Taliban"?

Posted by andreas, a resident of the Ventura neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2009 at 10:06 am

Calling a gang the "Taliban" is really stupid. That attracts the attention of the FBI, CIA, NSA, and just about every secret intelligence operation. Somebody will make a movie about this. If the gang had called themselves "Young Republicans for Palin" or "Liberals for Hillary", nobody would have paid attention! :-)

Posted by KT, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2009 at 10:07 am

I'm not surprised that members from the Taliban are all over the country and in Canada, but at least our intelligence officers are finally doing something about it instead of just watching them! Progress, as promised, is finally happening! I highly doubt the FBI would be so involved if this group wasn't seen as some sort of a threat to others!

Posted by Condi, a resident of Stanford, on Mar 7, 2009 at 10:16 am

Apparently, these thugs have no association with any religious or political organization. They took the "Taliban" name from a record (as in music) company.

Posted by Bonnie, a resident of the Greenmeadow neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2009 at 10:57 am

Are people who live in the 94303 aware that we pay insurance rates based on an East Palo address, as we are in that zip code and that is how the Insurance Commissioner sets the insurance rates. We pay Palo Alto taxes but East Palo Alto insurance rates. Call your insurance company and see. I did.

Posted by To Bonnie, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2009 at 11:19 am

What does your insurance have to do w/the Taliban and this raid?

Posted by Joe Smith, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2009 at 11:36 am

i am not surprised either

Posted by YouShouldKnow, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2009 at 12:33 pm

Bonnie is pointing out the high crime rate in EPA causes higher insurance rates to be paid in that area.

Just another way these gangs hurt respectable citizens in their own community as well as the neighboring ones.

And even if the name IS after a record label, why did that label use that name. Again, more hip hop antisocial antagonism. That genre is destructive to youth. Encourages a 'gangsta' lifestyle. Today you saw the results.

Posted by Citizen, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2009 at 2:16 pm

Love the name. Really, how dumb can you be. If they called it Murder Inc. it would have attracted less attention.

Posted by A Noun Ea Mus, a resident of the Professorville neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2009 at 4:36 pm

Maybe their defense attorney can plead diminished capacity---pointing out to the jury that anyone stupid enough to name a street gang "The Taliban" is two cans short of a six pack. It reminds me of that old cartoon where two cops in their car are passed by this huge Semi with "Marijuana Importers" written across the side.

I also have to wonder if having the name "The Taliban" caused the FBI to get more involved than they would have otherwise everything else being equal--- just so the headlines could read as if they were after the real Taliban? I wonder how many people will just read the headlines, in places from Oklahoma to Palo Alto, and just assume it's a bunch of crazed Muslims in our midst.

Posted by stretch, a resident of another community, on Mar 7, 2009 at 4:42 pm

Okay, I'll bite - where are all these carzed muslims hiding out?

Posted by YSK, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2009 at 4:44 am

I feel for the people of EPA. First for having to endure life among such awful people, and second for having to look outside and seeing something as scary as those pictures. To live under such constant fear must be so draining and stressful.

Posted by YSK, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2009 at 4:52 am

Yanno, I doubt there are any real ties to terrorism, international that is, in this case. But, think about how the 'face' of terror has been portrayed over the last few years. How they say it will change and morph into something less easy to spot. How they will become more insidious. How they will seek to recruit Americans. Recruit stupid kids who are ripe for the plucking...and they have also talked about getting different ways of funding terror. What better than to infiltrate American gangs? Get infusions of cash through drugs and guns?

Posted by Robert, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2009 at 6:08 am

The ignorance of some of the above comments is absolutely astounding. The name was obviously chosen to instill fear and intimidate. It seems to have been pretty effective. If these people were so stupid why did it take an investigation that has lasted over two years and a task force of 500 police and federal agents to carry out the sting opperation? How effective was the sting, did it snare 100% of the gang or 10%. The money guns and drugs siezed seems minimal compared to the aparent conservatively estimated size of the organization. Based on some of these irrelevent and shallow comments, I bet some of these gang members are smarter than some of the authors.

Posted by stu, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2009 at 12:29 pm

america constantly provokes fear by this terror war taliban queada etc.then when some people aopt a sl;ang name,you then eventually get them and call them ''taliban'' therefore provoking more fear gainst other peoples.white citizen cell phone paranoids are already over running the country.americas use mindwashing of prople by using words like queda taliban etc. promotes more fear and profiling.you gave them the names and they use it for their group thereby giving paranoid americans reon to not trust minorities.

Posted by Criminals Have No Rights, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, on Mar 8, 2009 at 1:39 pm

Unfortunately, sometimes laws make it difficult for law enforcement to enforce efficiently. Allow corruption and crime will disappear faster.

Posted by KT, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 8, 2009 at 3:01 pm

So I guess it was just a street gang...hopefully they got all of the major players!!! However, there are members of Al Qaeda within the US and Canada, Stretch....bite on this: Web Link

Posted by Most of you miss the point, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Mar 8, 2009 at 3:49 pm

You natter on and on about insurance rates, the original Taliban, how lame the name is, etc. This is a highly dangerous gang, and moving drugs and weapons in and out of the state makes it federal as well as local. This raid being carried out in many cities made it more dangerous than if it was carried out in just one location. Being "just a street gang" doesn't mean there was no danger to us legit citizens, no matter where we live. It's not about "encouraging a gangsta lifestyle" - it IS a gangsta lifestyle, and endangers many people, but putting illegal arms and drugs on the street, most likely laundering cash. They were also likely responsible for the unprovoked woman and her niece recently. If that's the case, here in EPA, how many other unprovoked crimes are they responsible for? Being an offshoot of the Midtown Hogs also indicates how nasty their roots go - to the likes of people like Tyrone Reilly.

Posted by Nunya Business, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Mar 8, 2009 at 10:35 pm

Im not advocating gang violence but I do know that our political and legal system and the people who represent them should be held accountable for their actions as well (Bart Station incident). Some of these "gang members" are only guilty by association. If people dress a certain way and hang with a group of people they are labelled a clique or gang. A lot of the houses they raided was based on misinformation. It's funny how the news only reports the bad things not the good things that the very same individuals (that I know of) did for the city of East Palo Alto. What about youth day (encouraging people to turn in their weapons)? or when they provided back packs and school supplies to the children of East Palo Alto? The police are using some these people as scapegoats because they can't find the real criminals who terrorize the city.

Posted by Get Over Yourself!, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Mar 8, 2009 at 11:33 pm

To Nunya Business: I am SO sick and tired of hearing the kind of excuses and subject changes that your post includes. Guilt by association - indeed! If you choose to hang out with gang members and get arrested during a raid, you asked for it. Associating with known gang members is a big no-no for those of us with brains and a desire to stay safe. If they're truly innocent, how come they're hanging out with thugs? Innocent of what - good judgement? Puhlease, spare us your rhetoric. They may be victims of their own stupidity, but that's about it. No one's saying they're all bad - heck - Hitler was a vegetarian, Ted Bundy did volunteer work, and Midtown Hog member I went to school with helped me out of a jam once. Does that mean he's not a criminal? No.

The "labelling" of a clique or gang is actually a legal designation, and of course, criteria has to be met:

"Criminal activity carried out by an organized enterprise."

"The police's definition of a gang is: a group of individuals, juvenile and or adult, who associate on a continuous basis, form an allegiance for a common purpose, and are involved in delinquent or criminal activity. This definition is simple and functional. It allows the police departments to take proactive law enforcement action normally before the gang gets an organized structure. The gang may range from a loose knit group of individuals who hang around together and commit crimes together, to a formal organization with a leader or ruling council, gang colors, gang identifiers, and a gang name."

"Any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, having as one of its primary activities, the commission of one or more of the criminal acts enumerated in section 186.22(E)(1-25) of the California Penal Code, having a common name or identifying sign or symbol and whose members individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity."

Quit making excuses for these people. You may not be advocating gang violence, but you appear to be advocating excuses and ignorance for these people.

Posted by Nunya Business, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 9, 2009 at 5:53 am

WOW- So someone could GOOGLE defintions, history and police codes. What have you done for the city lately? I'm excusing none of the gang activity however I am saying that some of the people who were arrested shouldn't have been arrested. While you site the police's definition of what a gang is the very same people who tell you what their looking for should look in the mirror because they are the biggest gang in America! In my opinion if you don't participate in the violent crimes or even witness them you are not guilty. I just hope that those who are truly innocent will be released after the trial. The news report was biased and I truly beleive on hearing both sides of the story before passing judgement. Like I said before some of the information that was reported was incorrect.

Posted by cop gang, a resident of the Charleston Meadows neighborhood, on Mar 9, 2009 at 11:01 am

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by WilliamR, a resident of the Fairmeadow neighborhood, on Mar 9, 2009 at 8:05 pm

If these goons want to call themselves 'Taliban', maybe we should go along with it and let the CIA and DHS handle them as domestic terrorists.

Posted by Mayfield Child, a resident of the Green Acres neighborhood, on Mar 10, 2009 at 9:55 am

It's not so much as "being stupid" ( not being highly educated didn't help )but being poverty stricken and desperate to survive in EPA.....................It's almost a guarantee that 99.9% of those arrested did not go beyond high school....IF they made it THAT far.

Posted by EPA Resident, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 10, 2009 at 10:42 am

Do you people really believe it is over??????? Hate to tell you it has just begun, what you fail to realize is the people who are in custody are the main ones that tried to keep the peace in the streets with other gangs conflicting over small things. If you people were on the inside looking out, not on the outside looking in you may understand. But if you have not lived it don't speak on it. These guys had to do what they had to do to keep their self protected. Where was the police and FBI when the Mexicans, known as Sac street gang, nortenos and serenous was walking around killing men, women, children and police officials huh???????? Yea o.k. I'll wait to see if you have a response for that. Oh yeah by the way most of the people that was arrested was African American that's not where the dugs come from sorry to inform you that, if were not for the Hispanics, drugs wouldn't be on the streets of East Palo Alto but why hasn't their been any arrest of Mexicans. You people are so twisted and confused the new generation of Gang members will be much younger and have no understanding because the have no morals are respect for anyone including police officials. Than what will they do?? gangs can never be stopped by anyone no matter the power or consequences. Look at LA,OAKLAND, San Francisco and surrounding areas tell me where it has completely stopped no where. Give the young people something positive to do and they wouldn't have to turn to shotting for fun are robbing. Instead the government builds more jails to create these beast cause that is what jail does, and than everyone wonders why people do what they do. Take the money you so called got from the drug dealers and build something educational for the the kids and youth are how about a cooperation that hires felons. I don't think they will or any of the people that have so much to say help the community instead of trying to prevent shit start off by helping. And the police can start off by solving the murder cases they have, where they have put no effort in getting any of them off the street. I can go on and on because I live in the city I see what happens and goes on the rest of you news watchers don't believe what you see cause half of it is fake.

Posted by EPA, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Mar 10, 2009 at 10:42 am

Mayfield Child is asking the right question, what are the root causes. You talk about survival, to a kid in EPA survival is not so much about getting food, but more about not standing out (how you dress and talk), and being careful what street you walk down. The dress and talk further isolates them from the greater world, making them more likely to choose crime.

Culture has a big part to play in this. And street culture is being pushed by powerful forces. Nintendo just put up a very large billboard for its video game Grand Theft Auto right in East Palo Alto, the very place this stuff is not a game, but reality. And the more it becomes a reality, the more money Nintendo will make, and the more we will all suffer. Its not a crime, but it should be.

Posted by putting too much on it, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Mar 10, 2009 at 10:44 am

Wow,I have been apart of East Palo Alto/Menlo Park community from 1976-1993 I still visit and have family there. My question is where was the FBI agents in 1990 when things were really bad and what about all the unsolved murders. I see where the law enforcement heads are, now that the white folks are entering the city as well as building up the city now you want to do something when this has been going on since the 1990's makes you wonder.

Posted by Supporter, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Mar 10, 2009 at 11:17 am

"Tomorrow is a new day and we will target a new gang,! "We will not tolerate gangs in our community."

We support the Police, FBI!

Posted by The R4eal, a resident of the Green Acres neighborhood, on Mar 10, 2009 at 11:41 am

The funny thing about the so called Taliban gang sweep is that there are only five or six people on the list that are probably associated with the gang it’s self. The rest are just dealers. What the city and FBI really need to call this is just another big drug sweep and not associated with the Taliban gang when you only arrest just a few of the gang members it’s self. Keep real EPA.

Posted by This is crazy, a resident of the Palo Alto Hills neighborhood, on Mar 10, 2009 at 12:19 pm

There is no such thing as a gang in EPA, this is not a gang this is a name that one person has taken and repped it in EPA, it's like monkey see monkey do. This is not a gang.

Posted by EPA, a resident of the Palo Alto Hills neighborhood, on Mar 10, 2009 at 12:41 pm

They say this so called "Gang" started 7 year ago, that is not at all true. I have grown up in EPA all my life and not one time have we had what is called a gang, these young men they do whats call claiming turfs eg: vill, mid, g-town,flooda and that is all not saying one person cant live on the other side this is just they turf (neighborhood) they grew up in. There is no gang, there are no plan shooting, murders etc. If something is happening it is based on that person, not a gang. I support the FBI and the local police, but I dont support this. It is really giving EPA a bad name once again and that is not right for the people who have to live here. This is a place that has also been known for drug sales since the 1980" and was it a gang then??

The only thing I can say is Iam pray for those people because this is sad.

Posted by village kidd, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Mar 10, 2009 at 1:00 pm

i thank ihts hella stupid that you put all them in jail like that i mean im from ohut there born and raised and them is people that i kick iht with most of them is family. so i really dont qhet iht bhut some of yall is sayin some dumb shxt on the real because yall never kniw what'chall talking bout enless yall lived in the hood and actually had to deal with iht. most of yall who thalkin prolly got jobs and everything.., they dont most of them have a criminal record and as they say they cant get a job so i mean what do you want them too do.. the only way they can get through in life is sellin drugs and doin what they have too make it in this crazy ass world.. and most of you fbi's and what not really have no clue what you talkin bout so hey. and yall droped that one dude charge that shot the dude at the bart i mean damn.. they ones that thold me too stay in school did yall say somthing about that no.. yall aint never say nothing good about them ihts all the badd stuff they do.. and ihf anybody has a problem with what i say i mean hey they like family and i been around them all mah life what can i say. i mean i feel where they comin from bein from the hood ihts hard bhut like i said you have too do what they have too do too ghet thru in life.

Posted by Cu_T33, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Mar 13, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Cu_T33 is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

I agree with R4eal and This Is Crazy. I came to EPA in 1968 and I never knew of any gangs. I come by way of L.A., now there ARE gangs in L.A., and the EPAPD knows the difference I'm sure. The EPAPD just want to look good in the eyes of the "other" folks that live around, or even in these days, EPA. They know most of these guys are not in a gang...they may associate with some of the folks that call themselves in a "gang", but many of them are not gang members. Repeat after me...THERE ARE NO GANGS IN EPA, THERE ARE NO GANGS IN EPA! Take they sorry butts to L.A. and see how gangsta they really are. Now that's news worthy! And to list them out, names, ages, etc., like that is crazy.