FBi Special Agent James McTighe (left) police chief Chris Burbank and district attorney Lohra Miller joined acting US Attorney for the state of Utah, Carlie Christensen, and other law enforcement officials to announce grand jury indictments charging members of the Tongan Crip Gang under federal RICO laws. Wednesday, May 12, 2010. (Paul Fraughton/ The Salt Lake Tribune)
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For more than 20 years, the Tongan Crip Gang has been wreaking havoc in the Salt Lake Valley by committing crimes ranging from assault to armed robbery to murder.

But federal, state and local officials said Wednesday they have taken a major step toward "dismantling the gang as a criminal organization."

Seventeen TCG members and associates have been charged in a 29-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court, alleging the gang engages in acts of violence to enhance the gang's prestige and to protect and expand the gang's operations.

Nine of the 17 are charged with racketeering, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, for allegedly engaging in a pattern of criminal enterprise stretching back to 2002.

All 17 are in custody.

FBI Agent in Charge James McTighe said the case "sends a message to the TCG and other gangs plaguing our communities that if you commit violence . . . destroy our quality of life, we will come after you, and you will pay a severe price."

Many of the defendants were already serving relatively short state and federal prison terms for lesser crimes, meaning they were soon due to return to the streets.

"They [now] face very long sentences," said Carlie Christensen, acting U.S. attorney for Utah.

West Valley City Police Chief Thayle "Buzz" Nielsen said the federal prosecutions "complete the full circle" of gang enforcement that began years ago with departments assigning individual detectives to focus on gangs and progressed to multidepartmental "metro" task forces.

Added Salt Lake County District Attorney Lohra Miller: "We have cut off the head of the snake."

The TCG is not the first Wasatch Front street gang whose members have been charged with federal racketeering charges in recent years.

In 2006, 15 alleged members and associates of the Tiny Oriental Posse were indicted. Charges were dropped against one man, but 14 others pleaded guilty to offenses committed on behalf of the gang.

One defendant, William Dav Mathipannha, had pleaded guilty in state court to first-degree felony murder for shooting a 15-year-old rival gang member outside a West Valley City apartment building in October 2004.

In 2002, the King Mafia Disciples were charged with RICO crimes. Members of the Soldiers of Aryan Culture were charged in 2003.

Officials said Wednesday that it took two years to assemble the TCG case, which included documenting 34 "overt acts" dating back to 2002 that support the RICO allegations.

Most of those acts are convenience store robberies in which firearms were brandished and discharged. In July 2007, a clerk was shot and wounded during the robbery of a 7-Eleven committed by two of the people named in the indictment.

Asked about murders committed by TCG members, which are generically referred to in the indictment, Christensen said that evidence will "come out at trial."

The defendants are:

Eric Kamahele, aka "Smooth," 22, of Cottonwood Heights; Mataika Tuai, aka "Fish," 32, Salt Lake City; Latutaofieikii, 21, West Jordan; Vainga Kinikini, 35, Salt Lake City; Tevita Tolutau, aka "Kingi," 20, Salt Lake City; Siale Angilau, aka "C-Down," 21, Salt Lake City; Penisimani Fangupo, aka "Deuce," 23, Salt Lake City; David Kamoto, aka "D-Down," 22, Salt Lake City; Viliami Loumoli, aka "Eazy-V," 22, Salt Lake City; Daniel Maumau, aka "D-Loc," 24, Salt Lake City; Kepa Maumau, aka "Kap-Loc," 22, no city of residence listed; Charles Moa, aka "Slim-Loc," 31, West Jordan; George Pupunu, aka "T-Rex," 22, Salt Lake City; Sitamipa Toki, aka "Tok-Loc," 28, Salt Lake City; John Tuakalau, aka "Sin-Loc," 22, Magna; Peter Tuiaki, aka "Pistol Pete," 22, Salt Lake City; David Walsh, aka "D-Nutt," 31, California.