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View Winners → Azusa gang leader sentenced to 20 years for violation of civil rights
Arcadia Weekly Jan 17, 2013
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The leader of a gang that committed serious hate crimes against African Americans in Azusa was sentenced Monday to 20 years behind bars.
The Feds say 48-year-old Santiago Rios, who is known as “Chico,” was the leader of the Azusa 13 gang in 2008 and 2009. He pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and conspiracy to violate the civil rights of area black men and women.
On June 2011, a federal grand jury indicted Rios and 50 other members and associates of Azusa 13, which is a Latino gang.
Authorities alleged that the gang committed racially-motivated crimes against black people from assaults to robberies and also used racist graffiti to harass African Americans.