Purported LA gang leader caught in LV

Rachael Levy

Wednesday, June 26, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

A man authorities say is the "godfather" of Los Angeles' gangs will be returned to Southern California where he is charged with running a massive drug empire.

Wayne Alfred Day appeared Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Robert Johnston following his arrest Friday at a Strip motel.

His attorney said Day, a 40-year-old interstate truck driver, had spent the past three weeks in Las Vegas visiting relatives and had been unaware that a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

The FBI had been searching for Day since mid-May, when he and 48 others were indicted in a national crack-cocaine ring. Many of the suspects involved allegedly are affiliated with the Crips, a major Los Angeles gang.

Authorities described the organization as a multimillion-dollar crime syndicate that used stash houses, storage lockers and couriers to smuggle cocaine from Mexico into Los Angeles. The drugs then were routed to cities in the Midwest and South.

Day was dubbed the godfather of Los Angeles gangs after a 1987 television special allegedly pictured Day instructing about 500 gang members on how to perform drive-by shootings.

"He urged the gang members to stop fighting each other and unite together against the police," said Walt Ayers, an assistant U.S. attorney in Las Vegas.

Day disputes the television report, arguing that the meeting was an attempt to stop gang members from killing.

Ayers said after Day's brother was murdered, he organized gang members to retaliate against the feuding gang, resulting in 13 deaths in two days. He also said Day has a long history of drug-related arrests and was convicted of rape in 1976.

Day's attorney, Kirt Hopson, did not dispute the prosecutor's claims while in court and agreed his client should return to Los Angeles under the supervision of U.S. marshals.

After the hearing, Hopson said the government's effort to characterize Day as a drug kingpin is without foundation. The lawyer said Day lives in a modest house in need of a paint job and does not own luxury cars, jewelry or designer clothes.

"This is supposed to be a drug kingpin? This is a guy who should be dealing tons of cocaine?" Hopson asked.

Day was arrested at the Tam O'Shanter Motel located across from the Treasure Island after authorities received a tip.

Day faces federal charges of distribution of cocaine and cocaine base, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possession of goods stolen from interstate commerce and conspiracy to possess goods stolen from interstate commerce.