#LosAngeles

People (5)

• Andy Furillo Los Angeles Times police beat reporter who wrote the first national press story about crack cocaine in November 1984, documenting the explosion of rock houses in South Central Los Angeles.
• Jerry Guzzetta Bell Police Department narcotics detective whose personal vendetta against drug dealers led to the Torres brothers investigation, codenamed Project Sahara, which uncovered the massive Blandon-Ross cocaine network.
• Malcolm Klein USC sociologist who, with colleague Cheryl Maxson, conducted the first scientific study of the early Los Angeles crack market in 1985, documenting the proliferation of rock houses and street gang involvement.
• Thomas Gordon LASD Major Violators detective who led the investigation into the Blandon-Ross cocaine network after receiving Jerry Guzzetta's Project Sahara reports.
• Torres Brothers Nicaraguan cocaine traffickers who worked for Danilo Blandón before becoming independent suppliers to Ricky Ross, eventually rivaling Blandón in volume and sparking a bitter feud.