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East Union Street Hustlers and their parent gang have been responsible for much of the Southeast Seattle gang violence

Three members of a violent street gang have been sentenced to prison for drug and gun offenses as part of a federal crackdown on gang violence. Federal prosecutors identified the men as members of the East Union Street Hustlers, which is affiliated with a larger gang called the ,Black Gangster Disciples according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.Sentenced Friday were:
Thomas Callandret, 23, of Seattle, to three years in prison for possession of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute. Callandret also is a "person of interest" in a fatal Nov. 23, 2008, shooting of a rival gang member at Vito's nightclub.
Dimitrius Tinsley, 21, of Seattle, received a six-year sentence for conspiracy to distribute a drug called BZP, which is similar to Ecstacy. Officers seized numerous firearms from his home during a July 2009 search. Tinsley, according to federal agents, was also present at the Vito's homicide and also was at the scene of another fatal gang-related shooting in January 2008 at the Baltic Room in Seattle.
Avery Scharer, 23, was given an 18-month prison sentence for conspiring to distribute BZP. When police searched his car, they found a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun in his child's diaper bag, along with marijuana, a scale and packaging materials, according to court documents. In sentencing memos in each case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Vince Lombardi filed court documents stating that the East Union Street Hustlers and their parent gang have been responsible for much of the Southeast Seattle gang violence.

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