Latest news with #2D$
CBS News
07-04-2025
- CBS News
Leaders of two violent Colorado gangs plead guilty to murder, organized crime
The leaders of two violent gangs are the last of two dozen people prosecuted for a frightening amount of violence committed in the Denver metro area during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two gangs were responsible for a number of car thefts, assaults, drive-by shootings, and murders. The Denver District Attorney's Office separately announced earlier this month the guilty pleas entered by 44-year-old Phillip Baca, Sr., and 22-year-old Angel "Taz" Espinoza. Baca pleaded guilty March 21 to one count of conspiracy to commit murder and one count of violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act. Within days, Espinoza also pleaded guilty. He accepted two counts of second-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, and one count of violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act. Baca's plea included an agreement with the court to be sentenced in June to 33 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. Espinoza, likewise, already agreed to be sentenced to 95 years in May. The two men initially faced 136 and 217 criminal counts respectively. Police identified Baca as the leader of the "Few But Plenty" (FBP) street gang. FBP, between January 2020 and March 2022, committed at least 14 shootings, mostly drive-by shootings that targeted the gang's rivals in west Denver, according to investigators. "In numerous instances," the indictment against Baca and 10 other FBP members states, "innocent bystanders who had nothing to do with the inter-gang feuds were the victims of this violence." Baca allegedly encouraged and sometimes explicitly ordered the younger members of FBP - some of them his sons and nephews - to commit violent crimes. FBP was known for its members performing and posting music videos on social media platforms to earn subscriptions and 'street cred.' The group earned almost $13,000, according to the indictment. Viewership of its videos grew, as did revenue raised by that viewing, following the group's acts of violence, per police. Espinoza was the leader of the "Too Damn Smooth" (2D$) gang. From June 2019 into March 2023, 2D$ committed at least 18 shootings, according to investigators. Most of those, like FBP's, were actions against rival gang members. And, like FBP's, innocent people were caught up in the violence. The indictment counted nearly 200 people who were not gang members but who were caught in the crossfire or targeted directly after being misidentified by 2D$ shooters. 2D$ members also participated in posting music videos, perhaps a lesser degree than FBP. But 2D$ members were "prolific with their graffiti efforts," as stated in their indictment, and more violent. 2D$ was responsible for three killings. Espinoza were personally involved in one of them. Both men commanded "brutal criminal organization(s) that terrorized neighborhoods" on Denver's west side, as Denver District Attorney John Walsh stated in separate press releases. While police and investigators refused to say directly that the two gangs clashed with one another, there is at least one major incident connecting them both. A 45-year-old man, Paul Baca, Sr., was gunned down January 22, 2021, in Denver. Media reports indicate Paul Baca was shot near the intersection of West Alameda Avenue and South Raritan Street at 5:45 in the afternoon. He was driven to a hospital in the private vehicle and pronounced dead there. Phillip Baca, the leader of Few But Plenty, is the brother of that shooting victim. Another member of the FBP gang is Paul Baca's son. The Denver District Attorney's Office blamed Espinoza's 2D$ crew for the killing. Court documents show 2D$ also killed another rival gang member in 2019. The two gangs formed out of members from other gangs, according to both group's indictment. That is not uncommon. A commander for the Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement Network ( RAVEN ) Task Force told CBS Colorado that criminal gangs form easily - and don't completely break up. "Violent gangs don't simply disappear—but each successful prosecution disrupts their ability to operate. The RAVEN Task Force tracks, targets, and adapts to these evolving threats wherever and however they emerge," stated Lt. DJ Tisdale. "These cases are not just wins on paper—they have real impact. Dismantling violent criminal networks and holding those involved accountable has an immediate effect on reducing violence in the communities we serve. While the gang landscape continues to evolve, we are seeing concerning trends, including the involvement of younger individuals in violent acts. In many cases, these acts are directly or indirectly tied to gang activity, whether through affiliation, influence, or recruitment. "While gangs may attempt to rebrand or reorganize, our approach is proactive, intelligence-led, and persistent," he added. "Our members— local, state, and federal agencies—remain united in our mission to reduce violent crime and safeguard our communities." The crimes noted in the FBP indictment: The incidents listed in the 2D$ indictment and press release: The 12 2D$ members already convicted and sentenced: Agencies involved in the investigation of both gangs included the Denver Police Department, the Denver Denver DA's Organized Crime Unit and its prosecutors, investigators and victim advocates, and the Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAVEN), a part of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Denver gang leader, originally facing 255 charges, pleads guilty under agreement
DENVER (KDVR) — The 13th and final member of the 2D$ street gang indicted by the Denver District Attorney's Office pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of second-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act. According to prosecutors, Angel 'Taz' Espinoza was the leader of 2D$ and was indicted alongside 12 other gang members in March 2023 on 254 felony counts that included murder, attempted murder, aggravated motor vehicle theft, assault, menacing and robbery. Espinoza's plea marked the last of the 13 to plead guilty. Broomfield police investigate reported road rage shooting on US 36 'Angel Espinoza was the leader of a brutal criminal organization that terrorized neighborhoods on the Westside of Denver and showed no regard for human life. The city is safer now that he will be off the streets, effectively for the rest of his life,' said Denver District Attorney John Walsh in a release. According to the district attorney's office, the 13 gang members were responsible for dozens of shootings targeting rival gangs between 2019 and 2022. One shooting left Paul Baca Sr. dead in Denver on Jan. 22, 2021, and another left Christian Chirinos-Salazar dead in Denver on May 28, 2022. The DA's office said the indictment identified almost 200 additional victims who were not involved in the gangs but got caught in the crossfire of gang violence or were misidentified as rivals. Espinoza is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22 to 95 years in the Department of Corrections, as part of the plea agreement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
