Some more sad news resulting form unchecked immigration..
Gratitude, relief over arrests fill community
By REBECCA McCARTHY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/02/04
The Rev. Antonio Jones and the members of his Cristo Vive church were preparing to hold a community prayer vigil this Friday night. They wanted to pray for the criminals terrorizing Gwinnett through a series of home invasions. And also to pray for their capture.
"But now we don't have to do that," Jones said. The news that eight suspects had been apprehended "is even ahead of our prayers. This is such great news. It's so great, I couldn't be happier."
All over Gwinnett County — in churches and groceries, on soccer fields and basketball courts, at suppers and birthday parties — you could almost hear a collective sigh of relief at news of the arrests, announced Friday evening. An alleged traffic offense led police officers to arrest eight Latino males who authorities say are linked to eight of the nine home invasions, which began a little more than two months ago.
Beginning Feb. 25, a gang of Latino males has staged eight home invasions in Gwinnett and one in Barrow county. Armed and masked, the group entered homes, tied up residents, pistol-whipped people, raped and sexually assaulted women and shot one man.
The criminals also stole money, jewelry and vehicles, terrorizing the county's Hispanic residents. As the crime spree continued, the gang seemed to become more violent, some residents observed.
One of those whose home was invaded is Joanna Farez. On March 5, five masked men broke into the Lawrenceville house she shares with her husband, José Gabriel Guzman, and their 2-year-old son. They tied up her husband, pointed a gun at her little boy's head and stole about $300.
News of the arrests had made her calmer, she said Sunday, but some doubts remain. Because the intruders were masked, she didn't see their faces, so she can't identify them through a lineup. She hopes the police have the right men, but thus far can't be positive. Police have said they can link the suspects to the Gwinnett invasions.
Still, doubts aside, Farez thanked God for the arrests and said that having suspects in custody is a relief.
"Thanks to God, thanks to God," Mariela Bernal said when she learned of the arrests. "What relief!" She is a Lawrenceville resident who volunteers with numerous Latino community organizations.
Since March, she said, she hasn't been sleeping well. Every time she heard a car passing by her home at night, she would wake up, wondering whether the criminals were coming to her house.
Bernal said that she will sleep easier now, knowing that the eight suspects, who range in age from 17 to 26, are behind bars. Everybody she knows, she said, was concerned about the invaders, so she couldn't wait to share the good news.
Police released the names and photographs of seven of the suspects Saturday and were still trying to confirm the identity of the eighth. The seven are identified as Gonzalo Ortega, 20, of Norcross; Mario Silverio, 26, of Lilburn; Jaime Carrera Carmago, 18, of Norcross; Cecilio Castro Delacruz, 25, of Lilburn; Paulino Gonzalez-Martinez, 21, of Norcross; Jose Martinez, 18, of Dunwoody; and Gustavo Cisnero, 17, of Norcross.
All the suspects have been charged with armed robbery except for Carmago, who was charged with weapons, drug and traffic offenses.