NEXT ON THE WHITE POWER CHOPPING BLOCK INLAND EMPIRE SKINS

LATEST ON THE WHITE POWER CHOPPING BLOCK: INLAND EMPIRE SKINS

MySpace. It’s not just pedophiles that target children there. Every now and then some bonehead may be there trying to recruit new members. When it is a bonehead gang whose leader – as we have learned last week, much to the right winger’s chagrin – on the National Terrorist Watch List, that tends to be just as much an issue as if some Chris Hanson magnet was after them. Just as illegal too. That’s why there seven members of the Inland Empire Skinheads were snatched up on Hitler’s Birthday, including the aformentioned leader Raymond Williams. According to police, who made these arrests after a yearlong investigation, their new prospects would have to assault nonwhite strangers to gain points with the crew. Well that crew has been hit hard, so hopefully those they reached might come to the conclusion that they might need other avenues to get over life’s hangups.

MercuryNews.com

A sweep of skinhead lairs throughout the Inland Empire on Monday twice took sheriff’s deputies to maternity wards where pregnant women were trying to bear babies on Adolf Hitler’s birthday.

Seven members of the Inland Empire Skinheads, including the leader, were arrested during the two-county sweep that took a team of 20 deputies to Hesperia, Perris and Winchester.

The white racist street gang has been responsible for murders in the High Desert, drug trafficking, home invasion robberies and countless assaults, officials said.

They reportedly used MySpace to recruit children and forced prospective members to assault strangers outside nightclubs and bars in an effort to prove their worth and loyalty.

First documented by Riverside police in 2002, the “IE Skins” ranks are now estimated to include 30 active members and up to 70 associates, including high school children.

“The most disheartening and alarming thing is that their only purpose is racial violence,” said San Bernardino County Sheriff Rod Hoops.

Arrested were brothers Thomas Mason, 24, and Joseph Mason, 20, both of Hesperia; Mark Goslyn, 33, of Hesperia; Carrie Goodwin, 24, of Hesperia; Raymond Williams, 33, of Perris; Jeremy Brower, 32, of Winchester; and Ronald Proffitt, 27, of El Monte.

The gang’s emblems are two crossed battle axes and the number “95,” which stands for Inland Empire. Daily gear includes red suspenders and black boots with red laces.

The local skinheads have national affiliates and one man – Williams – is on the National Terrorist Watch list.

Deputy Eric Ogaz, who led the investigation, declined to give specifics on crimes committed by the IE Skins because it is an ongoing investigation.

More arrests are expected to be made in coming weeks, including two more women suspected in robberies and assaults.

But he did say the gang targeted its victims based on ethnic backgrounds.

“They believe our country is going in the wrong direction and that the white people need to come together,” Ogaz said.

Gang paraphernalia seized during the raid was spread across three tables at sheriff’s headquarters on Monday. On display were belt buckles, brass knuckles, T-shirts with skinhead logos, about $1,000 cash, two shotguns, banners with swastikas and a copy of Hitler’s book.

Fliers advertising the gang’s annual barbecues insisted that “unity is strength” and a homemade photo album gave a peek into the skinheads’ lives. There were shots of men bloodied from fights, members guzzling alcohol from horns, tattoos being inked on their skin and even a small child holding two guns.

One official said Monday’s arrests will likely “dismantle” the Inland Empire skinhead clan. Yet, both pregnant members brought their children into the world on Hitler’s birthday.

The first mother, Goodwin, was taken into custody afterward. The second woman, who has not been identified, was being guarded at the hospital late Monday but was expected to be booked into Central Detention Center in San Bernardino along with her fellow gang members.