Cecil Mulkey, 19, and James Ashley, 21, identified as leaders of the 8th Street Boyz gang were arrested on federal drug and weapons charges

Cecil Mulkey, 19, and James Ashley, 21, identified as leaders of the 8th Street Boyz gang were arrested on federal drug and weapons charges. Aarmon “Murda Mook” Askew, 21, a top member and enforcer of the X.Y.I.D. Bloods set was also picked up on federal drug and weapons charg.A third 8th Street Boyz member, Howard Welch, 18, was arrested and charged in connection with a Saturday morning shoot-out in the 3000 block of Pine Avenue.The 8th Street Boyz, who are affiliated with the notorious Crips street gang, and the local Bloods set are believed to be locked in a battle over the city’s lucrative pot trade.“We are developing more information each day and I expect more arrests,” the police superintendent said.Chella also announced that police will increase their presence on the city’s streets by increasing the number of officers assigned to the RAC Unit and joining forces with the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, the New York State Police, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and state and county parole and probation officers.“We will work with our partners in law enforcement,” Chella said. “We are going to get this under control. Those who don’t want to abide by society’s rules will pay a steep price.”The new RAC officers will work in plainclothes and unmarked cars and will be on the streets at varying times of the day and week.
Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour said he had instructed his patrol deputies working in the towns of Niagara and Wheatfield to be prepared to respond to trouble in the Falls if necessary.“We’re close by and ready to do what we need to do to help,” Voutour said.Chella said uniformed police patrols are also likely to be increased and he said Mayor Paul Dyster had approved the use of additional overtime money to pay for added cops on the streets.“We want to make sure our posse is bigger (than the street gangs),” Dyster said.
The mayor also asked for help from parents and the community.“Don’t let your kid make the bad guy’s posse bigger,” the mayor said. “Keep your kids from being part of the problem.”The newly sworn-in United State Attorney for the Western District of New York, William Hochul, said his prosecutors were ready to join in the gang fight by using federal racketeering laws and tough sentencing guidelines. He pointed to the break-up of violent street gangs in Buffalo over the last 20 years as the model for what can be done in the Falls.
“The beginning of the end of street violence in the Falls has begun,” Hochul said. Niagara County District Attorney Michael Violante said gang members charged with state crimes can expect a tough time in court.
“They want attention,” Violante said, “Well, they will get all the attention we can give them in prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law.”Chella said the increased patrol activity has already started.