“7 alleged members of L.A. tagging crew arrested”: http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/29/local/me-big-taggers29.

In the macho, braggart, narcissistic world of Los Angeles tagging, no one can match the Metro Transit Assassins crew

These are not kids from the streets

one of the suspects drives a $60,000 BMW while another wore a diamond-and-ruby-encrusted Metro logo pendant valued at $27,000

Authorities have long been frustrated by MTA

the taggers outdid themselves when they hit the concrete banks of the Los Angeles River in downtown’s industrial district

it took about 400 gallons of paint — 300 gallons of white and 100 gallons of black — to create three block letters that cover a three-story-high wall

The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that removing the MTA tag from the river alone will cost $3.7 million

MTA — also known as Melting Toys Away and Must Take All — has been generating buzz in the graffiti art world for several years

“There is so much demand for street art right now,” Gastman said

“It is definitely a statement,” Gastman said. “To do something that big and bold it takes organization”