Arrests of L.A. Crime Family Announced

By Lee Bray-Rhoade, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 7, 2007

In a City Hall press conference held Friday afternoon, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Police Chief William Bratton and J. Stephen Tidwell, Assistant Director in Charge, FBI-Los Angeles Division, congratulated local, state and federal law enforcement officers after their announcement of sweeping arrests aimed at the 6th St. crime family on charges ranging from weapons and drug violations, to kidnapping, conspiracy and murder.

The first wave of arrests occurred late Thursday morning in Montecito Heights where family boss Robert “Wookie” Waller, consigliore Paul “Slider” Lacques and underboss Shawn “Skins” Nourse were taken into custody at Nourse’s residence. Simultaneously, officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms arrested underboss Paul “Bullets” Marshall at his heavily armed mountain compound in Tujunga. “This is my happening and it freaks me out,” Marshall was overheard saying as he was being taken from his home.

“The charges against my clients are based on nothing but Botox and light bulbs,” stated Jay Edwards, counsel for the four, at Friday morning’s arraignment. When District Court Judge Allan Mason asked for clarification, Edwards launched into a rambling, profanity laden invective against the LAPD, the FBI and Vice-President Cheney that cannot be printed in this publication but which resulted in Mason assessing a $10,000 contempt of court fine for Edwards. It was at this point that Marshall made a request for separate counsel and attorney Andrew Crane, who had been observing the proceedings, said “yeah, Paul Marshall,” and was immediately hired. When questioned outside the courtroom, Crane deferred comment on whether this development might lead to the filing of a petition for separate trial for Marshall, saying only “right now, my first priority is a meeting with a Paul Marshall…I mean with Paul Marshall.”

The organization came to the attention of law enforcement after the appearance of a story which alleged that Waller was instrumental in numerous terrorist acts, including but not limited to the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. Although almost immediately recanted, the “confession” provided law enforcement officials with confirmation of other activities for which the gang had been under investigation, in particular the disappearance of Dan “Panjo Man” Janisch, an underboss of a rival Westside family.

Still at large is Brantley “Godfather” Kearns, senior member of the family. “We’ve got him on conspiracy, we’re just not sure who with,” said an unnamed FBI spokesman, who confirmed that Kearns has long been under watch of the FBI, beginning in the late 60’s when he was house fiddler at Black Panther gatherings. The young North Carolinian with “Kill Whitey” painted across his fiddle quickly won the hearts of the Black Panthers and he soon became known as “the man who brought Bluegrass to Oakland.“ It was of Kearns that Bobby Seale once said “that white boy could have made Malcolm dosido.”

In his comments, Police Chief Bratton also credited the tireless work of one undercover member of LAPD’s gang unit who tended bar at the recently closed Cole’s, a 6th street bar in L.A.’s skid row that had once been a watering hole for the likes of Bugsy Siegel and Mickey Cohen. It was from this location that the family took its name and for the past three years Cole's served as a front for mid- and lower level family members to pass on their “tribute” (a percentage of proceeds earned from various illegal enterprises.) Appearing in their cover identity as the country rock band I See Hawks in L.A., leaders would “pass the bucket” at family meetings and authorities announced that Jeremy “Deacon” Rocine was arrested Thursday afternoon on charges of extortion and money laundering for his part in these collections.

It was at a January meeting at Cole’s that Waller boasted of the capture and beheading of Janisch, on whose territory the 6th St. family was thought to be expanding. “Just call me Khalid Wook Mohammad,” Waller is heard to say to associates on a recording found in the home of 6th St. lieutenants Randall “Noodler” Stewart and Mona “Garden Girl” Shelton. Police announced that Stewart was arrested on conspiracy charges regarding a marijuana smuggling operation out of Fresno. His partner, an individual known only by the codename “E.V.,” is believed to make use of deep cover to conceal regular smuggling shipments from Central California to Los Angeles, most of which coincided with meetings of the family.

Shelton, on the other hand, faces extradition to North Carolina on outstanding charges of interstate transfer of stolen auto parts, in this case three truckloads of Patty Hurst Shifters.

Also arrested Thursday and charged with crimes ranging from extortion and assault, to kidnapping and murder were Zach "Wizard" Blaue and the infamous Kahn Brothers (Winston, David, and James). Blaue, considered the "enforcer" of the family, is said to have gained his nickname from the prolific use of a "magic wand" (two 16 oz. beer cans duct-taped end to end) to induce compliance from recalcitrant debtors.

The Kahn's on the other hand, were independent contractors operating on the periphery of the organization and are believed to have acted solely on assignments received from Waller via Lacques and only in instances where all other means of inducement had failed. Because of this low profile, they were simply referred to as "the brothers." Among their many "jobs" for the organization were the multiple murders committed in the kitchen of a local restaurant. It is thought that these killings were carried out to end a long-running dispute regarding the origination of the French Dip sandwich, a theory supported by the choice of murder weapon: a brisket of beef. The vicious nature of the Kahn's is exemplified by evidence obtained at the murder scene which indicates that the killers "celebrated" by consuming not only the entire brisket, but sides of macaroni and cheese, steamed vegetables, and three bottles of Belgian ale. Tests performed on trace remains of this meal confirmed that the murder weapon, as well as all other items consumed matched the same items from the kitchen of Cole‘s. Also, contrary to Waller's boast, it is the Kahn's who are believed to have abducted Janisch following a protracted dispute over a percentage of tip jar proceeds at the Cinema Bar in West Los Angeles.

Based on a tip from an unidentified source, Janisch was found Friday morning, bound and gagged, in the hull of a sailboat berthed in King Harbor that is owned by 6th St. lieutenant Greg "Feets" Eilber, whose present location is unknown. However, a neighbor told investigators that Eilber had left the previous afternoon, saying only that "he was hitting the road with Merle." The identity of "Merle" and his connection to the 6th St. family is unknown at this time, but police announced Thursday that a warrant on kidnapping charges has been issued against Eilber and that "Merle" remains a person of interest in the investigation.

Janisch, who had been abducted in January, was unavailable for comment to reporters, although fellow family members are already rumored to be planning retribution against their north-eastside rivals.

Federal officials announced that additional arrests are anticipated and that indictments for violations RICO statutes are pending upon impanelment of a federal grand jury.

“Everytime we bust one of these groups, an angel gets its wings,” a chuckling Tidwell quipped to a reporter after the ceremony. “And you can bet Zuzu’s petals on that.”

Related stories:
Rob Waller Admits to 9/11 Terror Attacks
Waller 9/11 Confession Was Coerced: An Update