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SF Gang Evicted From Troubled Tenderloin Apartment Building

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— A local street gang is losing its headquarters in a Tenderloin apartment building where they have terrorized residents, as part of the legal settlement between the with the landlord and the city, according to officials on Tuesday.

City Attorney Dennis Herrera said that the violent drug dealing gang variously known as the Cambodian Crips, 245 or the Thug Lords, had turned the apartment building at 245 Leavenworth St. into a virtual prison for tenants who already had to endure pest infestations, mold, lack of hot water, dumped garbage and other code violations.

KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:

Herrera filed a lawsuit with the landlord, John Wai last October. Instead of settling the matter in court where Wai risked more civil penalties, he took action by correcting the property's numerous code violations. Enhancing security was also part of the settlement and efforts to remove the gang were successful.

"This will not continue to be a den from which this gang can continue to operate," Herrera said.

In a settlement filed Tuesday in San Francisco Superior Court, Wai also agreed to pay the city $135,000 fines and to sell the building by the end of this month.

"Whoever buys it will have to abide by the terms that were negotiated with respect to remedying these code violations," Herrera said, "We'll continue to monitor to make sure that criminal street gang activity does not continue on the premise."

According to police reports, the gang sold crack cocaine, heroin, and oxycodone inside and around the building. Assaults and shootings were also reported in the area.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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