Illegal immigration is contributing to a growth in gang activity in north Georgia, U.S. Attorney David Nahmias said Wednesday after a law enforcement summit addressing the problem.

Nahmias, federal prosecutor for the Northern District of Georgia, said the past few years have seen a "serious increase in our gang problem." He said the addition of new Asian and Hispanic gangs -- joining more traditional white and black gangs -- has been a factor in crimes ranging from truancy and theft to drug dealing and murder.

"As we gain population, particularly when we see illegal immigration increase, we're also seeing gang activity increase with that," Nahmias said...