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Cops, deputies dismantle Draks gang cell

Tribune photo by JAY NOLAN

Marquis Finley is led into TPD Division 2 off 30th Street in Tampa. He was one of nine suspected gang members arrested today.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 1, 2009

Nine Draks gang members could face a life sentence in prison after being accused of involvement in an organized property crime ring, Tampa police say.

A six-month investigation led prosecutors, Hillsborough deputies and Tampa and Temple Terrace police to dismantle what they call a "major cell" of the gang. Investigators served warrants today.

Today's roundup caught many of the suspects by surprise, Tampa Police Cpt. John Newman said.

Police say 22 of the gang's members committed 14 commercial smash and grab burglaries in Clearwater and throughout Hillsborough County. The members also are suspects in dozens of auto burglaries, residential burglaries and auto thefts.

Most of the smash and grab burglaries occurred between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. and involved four to seven people, Newman said.

"They would take one big stolen truck or one big stolen SUV and plow it right through the center of a Rent-A-Center or a Homes Now or a jewelry store," Newman said.

Once out of the vehicle, they would quickly grab things and leave.

"They were calculating," he said. "They did recon and recruited their friends to commit the crimes."

One of those crimes occurred 5 a.m. April 10 at the Rent a Center at 2525 E. Hillsborough Ave., police say. Suspects in that case crashed a vehicle through the store's front doors and took a flat screen television, Wii and laptops.

Another took place at A-1 Pawn, 11502 N. Nebraska Ave. When Larry Butler, the store's manager, looked inside his pawn shop after it was robbed in mid-March, he knew it would take a while to get things back in order.

"It looked like a disaster area," he said. "What else would it look like when somebody drove a vehicle through the front of your building?"

About 4 a.m., he said, the smash-and-grab robbers ran off with stereo equipment, watches, earrings and a laptop.

"They took a lady's laptop I was repairing," Butler said. "It was sitting on the counter plugged in, and they unplugged the laptop and left the power supply. That's why I think they're dumb."

Because nine of the gang members routinely used a vehicle in the commission of a crime, they could face life behind bars if convicted, officers say.

"Good. Hope they get it," Butler said after hearing of the sentence the suspects could face if convicted. "Keep them off the streets, maybe they'll learn something."

The next step is to educate younger or potential gang members, giving them a message that they shouldn't live the gang life, Newman said.

News Channel 8 reporter Jennifer Leigh contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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