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New Mean to "Cell" phone

By Associated Press

Mangum, OK – Officials say gangs using cell phones in prison

MANGUM, Okla. (AP) Authorities say they believe gangs are smuggling cell phones to inmates in order to stay in contact while in prison.

Greer County Assistant District Attorney Eric Yarborough says he has seven pending homicide cases from inside the Oklahoma State Reformatory in Granite. He says each case can be traced back to a prison gang.

Yarborough says it also shows that gangs in separate prisons are in contact with each other and he believes smuggled cell phones are the way they communicate.

State prison officials have said they believe a recent series of fights between American Indian inmates and Hispanic inmates was coordinated. The fights began at three different prisons a day after an American Indian man was charged with killing a Hispanic man, three women and two unborn children.

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Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.