AB443 could spark change in fight against gangs.
A bill that would authorize state law enforcement to freeze gang assets moved forward to the CA Senate Thursday. AB 443 passed on the CA Assembly floor in a 71 to 5 vote.
Authored by Assemblymember Luis Alejo, the bill aims to freeze the assets of criminal organizations to stop their activity.
It’s a bill that could spark a lot of change. Assemblyman Luis Alejo is introducing a bill aimed at criminal organizations’ finances, including gangs. Specifically, the ability to freeze their money.
Prosecutors could freeze any criminal organization’s assets without giving them notice. Right now, they have to give notice, which could give the suspects time to move the money around. It’s a move that the Salinas police has seen time and time again.
Five years ago on the Central Coast, authorities scored a major bust. “Operation Knockout” yielded 40 lbs of cocaine, $34,000 in cash and a dozen guns. Not to mention, 40 known gang members were taken off the streets in one day.
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