LOS ANGELES : Bail Denied After Alleged Threat Against Jailers

A federal judge Thursday denied a bail request by a reputed associate of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, saying a taped phone conversation in which he allegedly ordered an assault against jail deputies made him a threat to the community.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Byrne ruled that George Bustamante will remain behind bars while prosecutors prepare their racketeering case against the prison gang. The trial is scheduled to begin June 27.

Bustamante, 64, along with 21 other alleged members and associates of the Mexican Mafia, was indicted last month under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Bustamante is a longtime anti-gang activist who helped broker a truce last year between warring black and Latino gangs in the Oakwood neighborhood of Venice. Prosecutors allege that much of Bustamante’s work was done on behalf of the Mexican Mafia, which was trying to organize the street gangs to control narcotics distribution.

At Thursday’s hearing, prosecutors also revealed that they had two phone conversations taped in April in which references were made to Bustamante allegedly ordering an assault against sheriff’s deputies in the County Jail because they had mistreated members of the 18th Street gang.

Bustamante’s attorney, Paul E. Potter, said it was difficult to defend his client because prosecutors have not released transcripts of the phone calls. “I was forced to shadowbox,” Potter said, “and this guy is being kept in custody because I can’t see the shadows on the wall.”