United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott said at a press conference in Merced on Tuesday morning that the job is almost complete.
"The Merced Gangster Crips, while still technically active, may be on life support here," he said.
A 21-month-long crackdown of the street gang has netted the arrests of 20 hard-core Crips members, including gang leader Raymond Slaton.
Eight of the arrests have led to federal convictions, five state convictions and three parole sentences. Combined, the sentences total 70 years in prison.
Merced County District Attorney Gordon Spencer said while the gang still exists, it has been "severely impacted."
"The leadership was taken down," he said.
At its peak, Spencer said the gang moved a kilogram of cocaine every three to four weeks, bringing in a profit of $90,000.
Spencer said five more Crips members are awaiting trial in Superior Court for a variety of drug charges with gang enhancements.
Approximately 30 to 40 low-level Merced Gangster Crips members still operate in the area, he said.
Seven alleged Gangster Crips are still awaiting their day in court.
Because the federal prison system can send the gang's leaders to serve time far away from Merced, it further diminishes their influence locally, he said.
This prevents local Crips from meeting affiliates in prison, he said. "You won't find a fellow (Merced Gangster) Crip in Kentucky or Tennessee," Spencer said.
Scott said the multi-agency effort was launched after the murder of Gray.
Police believe Cuitlahuac "Tao" Rivera, 23, a suspected Merced Gangster Crips member, was the gunman.
During the two-week manhunt for Rivera, much was learned about the Merced Gangster Crips, Scott said.
Local, federal and state law enforcement agencies put aside their differences and turf guarding to assist each other with investigations, he said.
"Since 9/11, it is a new day with respect to the cooperation of law enforcement at all levels," he said. "We don't have time ... to have any kind of turf battles, or whose going to get credit for this. Those days are behind us."
Rick Oules, director of law enforcement for the state Department of Justice, said "the Merced Gangster Crips investigation has displayed the very best in law enforcement cooperation and coordination.
"We really created a success model for law enforcement to emulate nationwide," said Oules, a LeGrand native.
Acting Merced Police Chief Jeff Schindler said he is pleased with both the teamwork displayed by the various agencies and the sentences meted out by the courts.
"This has been an excellent example of dedicated law enforcement from the federal, state, and local level to rid our community of gang violence and gang perseverance," he said.
Even so, Schindler said the gang sweeps here will continue.
"We will continue to attack the gang population, hitting them when they don't know we are coming," he said.
Sheriff Mark Pazin said, "The fruits of our labor was fully realized upon the federal conviction of eight Merced Gangster Crips.
"It was a collaborative effort of federal, state, and local law enforcement that basically detected, disrupted and dismantled these domestic terrorists."
Reporter Mike De La Cruz ; can be reached at 385-2474 or mdelacruz@mercedsun-star.com.
Reporter David Chircop contributed to this report.
