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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.
Euronews
10-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Alpine microstate of Liechtenstein is set for its first female PM after election
Liechtenstein is set for its first female prime minister after Brigitte Haas' conservative Fatherland Union won a general election in the tiny Alpine principality. Haas' party received 38.3% of the vote in Sunday's election for the legislature in Vaduz, a slight gain compared with the last election four years ago when it had 35.9%. That gave the party an unchanged tally of 10 seats in the country's 25-member parliament. The Fatherland Union has traditionally formed coalitions with the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), which saw its support decline to 27.5% in the election — from 35.9% in 2021 — and lost three of its 10 seats. Overall turnout was 76.3%, with 16,171 ballots cast. Liechtenstein has only ever had male prime ministers since the job was introduced in 1921. Haas — a lawyer and the managing director of the country's Chamber of Commerce and Industry — is expected to succeed Daniel Risch, a member of her own party who decided not to seek another term, on 20 March. Women in Liechtenstein only won the right to vote in 1984 — making it the last country in Europe to grant universal suffrage. Sandwiched between Austria and Switzerland, the German-speaking microstate of about 40,000 people is a constitutional hereditary monarchy, meaning that government legislation requires assent from the head of state, Prince Hans-Adam II. The ruling prince has the power to veto referendum results, appoint judges and fire the government. The country has the second highest income per capita in Europe — behind Monaco — at €191,000, due mainly to its manufacturing industry and financial sector, according to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
