Chapter 18

MICKEL’S DECISION

In the police car Rizzo asked him about his family and history. Mickel didn’t hold anything back and told him the truth. Rizzo then said, “Mickel, from what you’ve told me and from what I’ve learned about what’s going on in West Valley, you have some choices to make. The sooner you face these choices and make a decision, the better it will be for you.

Gang membership is a social thing. If you belong to a gang, then you have status. Your gang is not doing anything serious yet. But they will be in a few years. The gang will get into drugs, stealing cars, maybe even murder for hire. It’s the natural order of things with gangs.

You seem to be a smart young man with a huge potential. I’m going to give you an opportunity that only comes to a few people. I’m not going to ask for a decision today and you’re not going to be able to ask anyone for advice directly. I’m asking you to go deep undercover for me. What that means is that you will be doing the same things that you’re now doing, but you will be working for me. I want you to be a secret agent for the police. All you have to do is make yourself a key member of the gang and keep me informed about what your gang is doing.

When the gang moves into the drug business and they will because that’s where the money is, I want to know the names of the suppliers. I’m not asking you to turn in your family if they should do anything wrong. If someone you run across should kill someone, then I want to know the details. In no case will you be called into a situation where you would testify against anyone. In exchange I’ll set up a bank account in your name.

Every month you will receive a deposit of $500. When you’re 18 years old, if you still want to continue, the amount will be raised to $1,000. If you want to go to college, and I hope you’ll go to college someday, we will work out the details so that there will be no cost to you.

This is a big decision for you. It’s probably the biggest of your life so far. I want you to think about everything that your father and mother have told you. Think about what you want to do with your life. Then make a decision. Can you meet me tomorrow?

“Yes, I’ll meet you tomorrow, but I can give you my decision now.”

“I want you to think about it tonight. Talk to your father and get his advice in general terms. It’s very important that nobody knows what we’re talking about.”

“Where can we meet where my friends won’t know I’m talking to a policeman?”

“I’ll be in the restaurant across the street from the high school. I won’t be in uniform and I’ll drive there in an unmarked car. None of your friends should see you meet with me. As soon as you come in, I’ll stand and order us some food and drinks and go outside. Follow me out and if any of your friends are in sight, don’t get in the car. If the coast is clear, get in and we’ll drive around and talk.”

The next day, “I’ve made my decision. Our gang had a meeting last night. There were some things that became clear to me. First off, I could have become the head of the gang. I didn’t, I nominated someone else who became the leader, and his name is Jose Garcia. The second thing was the next thing to be discussed was how to make money. Drug distribution and sales was the only thing discussed. We talked about how easy it would be to make a lot of money. Billy is meeting with some drug guy today to learn how to go about it.

My decision is to work for you. I think that if I work for you I have a better chance of becoming a citizen and to be an honorable American. If I stay on the road with my gang I’ll be doing things even more illegal than my coming to America with my family and I’ll probably end up dead in a gang war or in prison. I believe my father would be proud of my decision.”

“I’m glad that you made this decision. It shows a maturity that many young people don’t have. We need to set up a way for us to talk back and forth without any danger of giving away the fact that you’re working for me. First off, you can call me at this number 123-7511. If someone tries to discover who this number belongs to, it will only show “private party.”

Call me with any information that you have. You can call me at any time for any reason. We are now partners. If something should happen to me, a sealed envelope will be mailed to my boss that outlines our arrangement. Unless that happens, no one in the police department knows about us. There are sometimes people in the police department who sell information like our deal to some bad people. Make sure you call me when you’re alone. If there is an emergency, how do I reach you?”

“I knew that you would ask that question. When we lived in Mexico, my best friend was Paul Lopez. Call my home and leave a message. Just tell me to call Paul. If I get that message I’ll find a private phone and call you.”

“There is one final matter of business for us to handle now. Here is a bank book. There’s an account set up at the Wells Fargo Bank with your name on it. There’s $500 in it now. You’ll need that book to make withdrawals. Our agreement says $500 each month until you’re 18 then $1,000 per month.

If you have a problem of any kind, call me and let’s talk about it. I may be able to help you. I want you to know that I had to have trust in you to make you this offer. I hope that you’ll trust me as well.”

“I’ve never had this much money in my life. I don’t know what to do with it.”

“Don’t do anything with it until you need some of it. If you go out and start spending money that you never had before, some of your gang friends will wonder about you. Take it slow and easy. Knowing it’s there will help you make decisions about money that you couldn’t make before. It’s very important that you keep this money secret.

I would suggest memorizing the number and going to the bank and tell them that you will sometimes need to come in without the book. Ask them how you can withdraw money without the book. They will arrange some kind of identification card or number to use until you get a driver’s license.”

“Thank you Mr. Rizzo.”

“Thank you Mr. Hernandez. One other thing, please call me Dave. If you call me Dave and you’re overheard, nobody would know that you’re talking to a police detective. We are close to your home; do you see anyone who would recognize you?”

“I don’t see anyone, so it’s safe.”

“Good bye for now,” said Rizzo.”

Through the years Rizzo heard from Mickel on a regular basis. He learned that Jose Garcia had guided and molded the gang into a large, tough, profitable gang. Each gang member received more money than just about every person in the Hispanic community. Most of the members bought cars, women, fancy sound equipment, and expensive clothes.
Mickel put most of his ill gotten gains in his bank account after helping his family with food. He had only used a little of the money that was there from Rizzo. His bank account had grown to over $100,000. Mickel had opened a checking account and a money market account. He was studying the stock market and planned to open a trading account soon.

THE SALT FLATS MEETING

Mickel called Rizzo and told him about a meeting for Sunday night at Midnight. His gang was meeting with the Soul Power gang. Rizzo told him, “what ever you do, don’t go to that meeting. Get sick, shoot yourself in the foot, have a car accident, anything, but find a reason to stay away from that meeting!”

“Dave, I’ve trusted you in the past and I trust you now, I don’t know how I can avoid the meeting but I’ll figure out something. Can you tell me why I shouldn’t go?”

“I can only say that when you get 40 young gang members together from 2 rival gangs, all armed to the teeth, something nasty could happen. I want you around to use up all the money you keep savings. I want you to go to College, have a family and become an American citizen.”

“If there is no way to avoid the meeting, call me back, I’ll have a backup plan on how to keep you alive.”

The next day, Mickel called Rizzo again. “Billy is crazy. I told him that I would watch over the drugs and money while everyone else is at the meeting. For a minute, I thought that he was going to shoot me. He wants all of his men, especially his trusted men to be there to protect his back. I can’t stay away without blowing my cover and maybe my life.”

“When do you plan on meeting on the off ramp?”

“We are supposed to be there at 10 PM.”

“As soon as you can, go over behind the cars to take a leak. Drop down behind the cars and go down the embankment by the freeway. When you’re sure that you’re not spotted, run down the freeway to the west toward Wendover. There will be a motor home parked on the shoulder about a half mile away. Go around the back and come up to the door and knock 3 times, wait 10 seconds and knock one more time. The door will open and let you in. Go in and make yourself comfortable.”

GANGLAND

Business had never been better for the gangs. They were selling all of the cocaine, meth, crak and other drugs they could find. The police were trying to find Robin Hood and seemed to be ignoring everything else. The only problem was the increasing conflict between the gangs.

Jose Garcia sat in a meeting with his 3 most trusted men. “What do you think that we should do about the Soul Power gang? The more business we do, the more times we are running into them.”

“There is plenty of room, but we need to talk about it. I’ve talked to some of their members. The ones that I talked to seemed to be reasonable and don’t want to fight us,” said Juan Moreno. The others nodded in agreement.

“Are you telling me that we should meet with those double dealing bastards? The last time we tried to talk, we lost 4 good men.” Jose wanted to meet and talk to the Soul Power gang, but he wanted it to be the idea of his men. They would be more committed to it if it was their idea.

Mickel asked, “Why wouldn’t it be a good idea to talk? If we keep fighting, it will hurt us both. If we are weakened, other gangs will come and weaken us more. If we meet and divide up areas it will make us both stronger.” Unknown to any of the Mexicanos Gang, he was a deep undercover agent for the police. He thought to himself, ‘a meeting with the rival black gang is something “Paul” will want to know about.’

Jose paused and pretended that he was battling with himself to even talk to the rival Soul Power gang. “Juan, you said that you had talked to some of their people. Can you set up a meeting? It would have to be in neutral territory. Maybe out in the desert somewhere.”

Juan, proud to be entrusted with such an important responsibility replied, “I believe so; I know where to find some of the gang.”

“Let me know as soon as you have made contact. See if they have a place that we could meet together and talk like reasonable people.”

Juan was making his regular cocaine run late that night when he saw one of the black gang members. He waved and smiled so that he would not be alarmed. He turned into a grocery store parking lot and parked with the engine running as far away as he could get from other cars and the store. The black gang member, Sonny, drove up going the opposite direction so that their open windows were close together.

“How’s business” said Juan.

“About the same,” said Sonny.

“I told my chief that we had talked and you and I wondered why we have to fight all the time. He asked me to see if I could set up a meeting where we can talk and perhaps end the fighting.”

“I don’t know about everyone, but everybody that I know would like to quit fighting you guys. It’s stupid; we’re doing the same business and should be fighting other smaller gangs and the cops, not each other. Man, if we would work together, nobody could touch us! I’ll talk to Billy and see if he will meet. Did you have a place and time?”

“We had talked about someplace we would both feel comfortable with, maybe a place out in the desert. We didn’t have a time. Can you and I meet here again tomorrow at the same time, to see what our chiefs say?”

Juan waved, “see you here tomorrow.”

Jose told Juan to go back and see when and where the black gang wanted to meet. “It has to be a place where we can see there is no trap, no room for a double cross. Both of us should want this kind of place if we are being honest with each other.”


Jose and Sonny met again. “Billy knows a place out west of the Great Salt Lake. It’s as flat as a pancake. There is no way that someone can be within 5 miles without us seeing them. Sunday at midnight each gang will come with the head man and 5 others 4 miles south of Interstate 80 Exit 6. That way there is one car load for each gang. The rest of the gang members can stay at the exit off of Interstate 80.

The designated cars will leave together from the exit ramp and drive to the meeting place. There is nothing there except a dry flat salt bed. This time of year it will be as hard and flat as a table.

Juan said, “Tell Billy that Jose agrees, we will meet Sunday night at midnight at the exit ramp #6 on Interstate 80. 6 miles east of the Nevada state line. I’ll meet you here at the same place, at the same time to confirm the arrangements.

Jose was excited when Juan told him the details of the meeting place. “I do not trust these people. However, out there in the salt flats, there will be no double cross. There will be no surprises. We can sit and discuss our business like civilized people. But, if they try to double cross us, we will be ready to kill them all. “

Billy Williams was also hopeful. It seemed like his men were always fighting with the Mexicanos. They were smart and they were tough. If we could have a truce, it would help him to recruit more men and expand his business farther and faster. It was a good place to meet. There was no place to hide. But if these Mexicanos wanted to double cross him, he would be ready.

Cole received a call from Mr. X, “there is a meeting between the Mexicanos and the Soul Power gangs. We need to talk tomorrow night.

At the trail-head the next night, “The two biggest gangs in the Salt Lake Valley are meeting Sunday night at midnight. It’s going to be 4 miles south of the interstate 80 Exit 6, just east of the Nevada state line. It’s the salt flats. It would be a good idea to get out there and set up. It’s as flat as a table, but it’s also the same off white color. You could hide behind a white sheet, 100 yards away from the spot they’re meeting and they would never see you. Since it’s after dark, we could have a problem if either of them are using night scopes. If you’re satisfied that you can pull it off go for it. If you want more time, there will be another time and place. One more thing, I assume that the motor home will be used and one of you will be parked on the Wendover side about a half mile away to the west of the off ramp. After the cars gather at the off ramp, my undercover man will slip away and run down to where you will be parked, His name is Mikel, he will come up to the door, knock 3 times, wait 10 seconds and knock once more. Let him in and treat him well. If he’s not Hispanic, shoot him. Good Luck and I’ll see you Monday night.”

Gang War

“I would expect them to have someone at least watching the freeway off ramp Sunday and maybe Saturday as well. This is open territory so there will be people out there driving around over the weekend. We can drive out there, drop one of us off and come back. The other one can come back after dark and set up where he can see the off ramp. In both cases we don’t have to shoot them all. One shot and the leader drops, his people and the others will all pull their guns and start shooting. At the off ramp, the same thing will happen. When the shooting stops, we pick off the last men standing. Which position do you want,” asked Cole?

“I think that I would rather ambush the gangs on the off ramp, but I’m willing to take either one.”

“I would rather be out on the salt flats, so that’s settled.”

Cole and Aaron told the girls that they had a business meeting Monday morning, so they would have to leave early Sunday morning. They had discussed options and decided to take the motor home. In the case of a fire fight, the plate armor and bullet proof glass would stop any thing that the gangs would be using. They would drive out on the salt flats and drive exactly 10 miles straight south. They would then drive back 5.9 miles.

Cole got out with his rifle, night scope, off white blanket, some empty bags, a small shovel and his hunting pack with snack food and water. He quickly dug down into the salt until he had a fox hole deep enough to be comfortable in. He filled several of the bags to provide a rest for the rifle.

“Ok, take off, come back and get me after the gangs at the exit are taken care of. I’ll start the fight here as soon as they appear to be comfortable. Whoever is finished first will hear the shooting of the other. Good luck and good shooting,” said Cole.

“Good luck to you,”

Aaron drove back to the freeway. They didn’t have to worry about making tracks. There were a lot of tracks around. Most were partially filled in with the drifting salt crystals. In a few hours, the tracks of the motor home would be partially filled in as well because a steady wind was blowing across the flats. He took the west bound land and drove the 6 miles into Wendover, Nevada. Aaron turned around and found a rocky knoll where he could see to the east. With his binoculars, he had a perfect picture of Exit #6 off ramp. He planned on waiting until dark and then driving slowly back down the freeway shoulder until he was about 300 to 400 away from the ramp. From there he would have a clear shot at the cleared area where the gangs would be waiting.
Just before dark, several cars exited and drove south toward Cole. Aaron watched as they drove until they went out of sight. A few minutes after the lights blinked out, they blinked back on as the cars came roaring back to the ramp and headed back to Salt Lake City.

An hour later, more cars exited and stayed there in the cleared area. 2 cars drove toward Cole. Aaron pulled back on the freeway with his lights off and slowly drove down the shoulder. There wasn’t much traffic. Aaron was a little concerned about the possibility of a state trooper getting curious about him, but none came by. He had forgotten about the undercover guy, when he heard 3 taps on the door, then another one. He drew his 9 MM and opened the door. A young Hispanic man with 2 pistols under his belt stepped in. The young man looked at the pistol and raised his hands.

“I was told to shoot you if you weren’t Hispanic,” said Aaron as he lowered his pistol. “I’m Aaron.”

“I’m Mickel.”

“Sit down and make yourself comfortable. There is a pair of night goggles in the case over there. Put them on and adjust the magnification wheel on the right side, it will give you a close up look at what’s going on. It will be nice and clear with green shading. When the shooting starts, the muzzle flashes will probably give you a headache.