Miami-Dade Police Arrest 31 In Operation 'Willy Wonka'
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – After a yearlong investigation on a Miami street gang, police arrested 31 people, seized copious amounts of drugs and recovered several weapons.
Miami-Dade police's investigation focused on the "Get Money Soldiers" criminal street gang based within the Arthur Mays Villas Public Housing complex.
Authorities said the gang originated as neighborhood cliques who were involved in adolescent criminal activity.
However, detectives said the gang transitioned into a criminal enterprise, which used violence and intimidation to take over drug territory. Investigators said the gang was involved in narcotic sales, burglaries, robberies, murders and firearm violations.
Operation "Willy Wonka," as police called it, consisted of four simultaneous search warrants at high-profile gang locations and 17 arrest warrants for individual gang members.
At 4 a.m. Thursday, police entered the Arthur Mays Villas Public Housing complex located at 11341 SW 216th St.
Besides the 17 gang members taken into custody, authorities said they arrested 14 others for various crimes.
Police said they also seized 29 grams of powder cocaine, 402 grams of marijuana, 9 grams of ecstasy, one rifle and five handguns.
All of the gang members and associates were arrested on numerous narcotics and firearm charges and are expected to face 3-year minimum mandatory sentences for their crimes.
In a statement Lieutenant Hiram Rodriguez said, "Today ends Get Money Soldiers' reign of violence and terror in the community."
Anyone with information regarding this incident is can contact Crime Stoppers (305)471-TIPS (8477) or (866) 471-8477.
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