The market, located in the 2900 block of Imperial Avenue and allegedly operated by West Coast Crips members and associates, was under surveillance for more than a year, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. An estimated 20 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated street value of at least $550,000, was sold at the market weekly.
According to court documents, the market functioned as both a retail outlet and a wholesale hub, supplying users directly while also feeding a network of low-level dealers who redistributed the drugs in various other areas of the city, including East Village, Logan Heights and Sherman Heights.