Plainfield gangs: 20 indicted in Clinton Avenue posse probe

Plainfield's streets have been much quieter since last April's big bust of bad actors linked to the Clinton Avenue Posse.

The likelihood the streets will remain quieter for a long, long time took a big leap forward yesterday with the indictments of 20 arrested in the April sweep.

That roundup, conducted by the Union County Prosecutor's Office, the Plainfield police, the State Police, and 18 other agencies put a crimp in the gang's activities that has continued, in spite of the recent outbreak of a drug turf war in the city's West End.

Two facets of the prosecution are worth highlighting --

• Gang members are being prosecuted under racketeering statutes, which could involve different sentencing outcomes than usual, and
  
  
• 'Possession of a community gun' -- one that is shared by a group engaged in criminal activities, and subject to a new law recently passed.

Stories appear in both today's Ledger and Courier.

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• Ledger: "20 are indicted in Plainfield gang case"
• Courier: "15 Plainfield residents indicted in gang sting"
  

-- Dan Damon

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