7th Street Gang
| Founded | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Years active | 2000–2017 |
| Territory | Western Buffalo |
| Ethnicity | Mainly Hispanic |
| Rivals | 10th Street Gang |
7th Street Gang was a gang based in Buffalo, New York, specifically the West Side of the city. The gang participated in the illegal drug trade of cocaine, heroin, and other narcotics and has participated in violence in the city.[1]
History
[edit]The gang was established in 2000 by Efrain “Cheko” Hidalgo after he got his friends and family to participate in the illegal drug trade in Buffalo, he called this clique "Cheko's Crew". He joined in a coalition with the local 7th Street Gang after being able to prove himself a formidable force in the drug trade. He became the leader of the gang not long after the merging of the organizations, this came to the attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Safe Streets Task Force especially after the surge of violence in the West Side of Buffalo with 7th Street Gang rival, 10th Street Gang.[2] During this rivalry, violence surged heavily in 2009 when many shootings occured due to it and with many innocent bystanders were caught in crossfire.[3]
A family member of Efrain Hidalgo, 31-year-old Uda Hidalgo, plead guilty to violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act before United States District Court for the Western District of New York Judge Richard J. Arcara in 2015. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi, who was handling the case, stated that between 2000 and 2012, Uda Hildalgo was a member of the Cheko’s Crew/7th Street Gang which was responsible for drug trafficking and violent crime on Buffalo’s West Side. During this time, as a part of the rivalry with the 10th Street Gang, Uda Hildalgo participated with others in the murder of 10th Street Gang associate Eric Morrow. Uda Hildalgo provided one of the firearms used by other gang members to shoot and kill Morrow on Aug. 11, 2009.[4]
In 2017, 18 members of the 7th Street Gang were arrested and charged with the murder or conspiracy of the murder of Raquan Lloyd which included Efrain Hidalgo, the leader of the 7th Street Gang, Two men from the 7th Street Gang, including Hidalgo himself, went into the residence of Lloyd and shot and killed him on November 6, 2008 according to the acting United States Attorney General for the Western District of New York at the time, James P. Kennedy Jr.[5]
The gang spearheaded violence throughout the west side of Buffalo from 2000 to 2012 and sold many narcotics including marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Ex-Buffalo street gang leader sentenced for slayings, drugs". Olean Times Herald. 2016-08-18. OCLC 757862514. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ "A Legacy of Crime Brought to an End". Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ Gibas, Katie (2018-08-21). "Federal statutes helped bring down two gangs". Spectrum News 1 Buffalo. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ "7th Street Gang Member Pleads Guilty to RICO Conspiracy; Admits Role in Murder of Rival Gang Member". Federal Newswire. 2015-02-19. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ McNeil, Harold (2017-02-04). "West Side gang member sentenced to 17 years for roles in two murders". The Buffalo News. ISSN 0745-2691. OCLC 8882862. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ Burns, Barbara (2016-08-18). "Leader Of Cheko's Crew/7th Street Gang Sentenced On Rico Charge For His Role In Four Murders And Seven Attempted Murders". United States Department of Justice. Retrieved 2024-10-21.