9 Charged In Rape Of 14-Year-Old Girl In St. Paul
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- It began with some after school drinking in the basement of a house on Maryland Avenue in St. Paul. But later on the evening of Nov. 17, 2011, a 14-year-old girl and a juvenile friend were driven to an abandoned house a few miles south.
It was in that home on the 200 block of White Bear Avenue where the young girl was soon in the company of a well-known street gang, the True Blood 22's. According to investigators, 24-year-old Mang Yang, who had picked up the girls, is a True Blood 22 gang member.
"The facts outlined in this complaint are horrible," said Ramsey County Attorney John Choi.
Choi detailed how nine members of the street gang planned the rape by getting the girl drunk on beer. When she and the other juvenile friend attempted to leave the party, the girl was grabbed from a car and carried into a bedroom.
According to the criminal complaint the victim tried to grab onto whatever she could, including door frames to prevent the men from bringing her into the room. She told investigators the juveniles held her arms and legs down as the older men began raping her.
"The victim in this case is an innocent 14-year-old girl who was held down and brutally raped by a group of gang members," Choi said.
Five adult men, ranging in age from 18 to 37, are all charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, conspiracy to commit rape, kidnapping a child and perpetrating a crime for the benefit of a gang.
Those charged are Vang Tou Ger Vue, 19, Kong Meng Vang, 37, Michell Teng Vang, 23, Mang Yang, 23, and Vanchai Xiong, 18.
Ramsey County prosecutors also filed charges against four juvenile males and intend to try them as adults. They are identified as Shaileng Shong Lor, 17, Jim Her, 17, Xou Yang, 16 and a fourth juvenile who is only 15. His name is not being released.
Investigators say the girl's horror only ended when a lookout who was stationed in the kitchen told the attackers that police had been called.
"This gang has been in St. Paul actively for five years. Currently there are about 30 to 40 members associated with this gang metro wide," said St. Paul Police Commander Todd Axtell.
Choi said the victim is receiving care.
"The defendants in this case will account for their horrific actions and we will bring them to justice," said Choi.
Police are asking anyone who has been previously victimized by this gang to get in contact with the St. Paul Police gang unit at (651) 266-5680.
