Federal authorities brought charges against 23 members and affiliates of a South Side gang they claim have controlled drug trafficking, shot at rival gang members and attempted to kill an informant over the last eight years.

Among those charged Thursday by the U.S. Attorney's Northern Ohio, Eastern District office, were the top two members of the LSP gang, who kept their reign by controlling the sale of crack cocaine in the city and in neighboring Boardman, the indictment says.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals and police apprehended several of the men during raids early Thursday as part of "Operation 577."

As of about 4 p.m., 17 of the suspects had been arrested, and many were arraigned in federal court.

The 48-page, 42-count indictment states the LSP gang, which stands for Laclede, Sherwood and Parkview or Princeton avenues, the streets at the heart of the gang's territory, controlled drug trafficking, and enhanced and protected their gang's power through violence.

The indictment detailed several crimes committed by the gang between Jan. 1, 2003, and Tuesday.

Among the criminal acts described in the indictment are murder, robbery, witness tampering, retaliation and drug trafficking, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, felonious assault, aggravated menacing, firearms trafficking, theft, receiving stolen property, car jacking, breaking and entering and burglary

Federal prosecutors believe Daquann Hackett and Derrick Johnson Jr. are LSP's leaders and directed other members and associates of the gang.

Also indicted were James Neail, Tyrell Oliver and Nalemn Hasley, who authorities believe sold drugs to Hackett, who then sold the drugs to LSP members and associates. In exchange for doing business with the trio, LSP members committed acts of violence against the trio's rivals.

LSP's territory includes a multi-block area on the South Side, the indictment states. The borders are West Laclede Avenue to the North, Rosedale Avenue to the East, West Indianola to the South and Volney Road to the West.

Drug trafficking, including crack, heroin and marijuana, generated a large portion of the gang's income, according to the indictment.

The charges said that Hackett purchased the powder cocaine and crack from the three suppliers. Hackett then cooked the powder into crack and sold it to the gang members, associates, low-level dealers, users or addicts.

Hackett, the indictment said, used his position as the primary supplier of crack cocaine as a way to maintain his power.

Gang members, the indictment said, regularly armed themselves with guns to protect their territory, attack and retaliate against rival gangs, people who wouldn't support the gang, to commit robberies and build "respect" and "street credibility" in the gang and in the community.

They also sold illegal firearms "routinely," wore bulletproof vests and responded with violence if they learned someone outside the gang sold drugs inside their territory.