an international drug cartel gets busted locally after allegations of narcotics trafficking and murder. refreshed. >> plus a health a all right about an ancient tea with a time less promise. more energy, better skin, but what's the risk? plus, light snow in our area, topper is tracking if it will be a dry commute. in fact tonight, winter weather is already causing problems on the highways. right now crews are working the scene of a multiple car accident in potomac yards. >> at least four cars wrecked on the monroe avenue bridge after 9:00. that bridge now closed down. the reason? ice. >> we go straight to chief meterologist topper shutt on the weather terrace. when will the snow stop and what's the evolving situation, top? >> good news the snow will taper off the next two hours. bad news temperatures upper 20s and low 30s so what's falling is sticking. let's outline it for you and break it down and again it will end shortly after midnight tapering off, right now until about 2:00 a.m. not much north. i think when you get north of gathers bug and you're driving south coming from fredrick you'll be like what snow and then say oh, okay there's the snow. we are looking at slick bridges and overpasses, we just showed you a couple of accidents there. please be careful and we're looking at light snow and roads slick, especially south, reports south 95 and down toward that area, very very slippery. let's look at the live doppler, and we'll see a pretty good band of snow south of town, especially down 95 and out 66. everything just pushing off to the east but notice you get up toward fredrick there's nothing maybe a few flurries and that's about it. we'll go back to the computer. by the type all is said and done maybe half an inch downtown in manassas and that is really just about it, so overnight then mostly cloudy, cold and light snow and lows in the 20s, winds north westerly at 10 and wake up weather is cold. snow is not an, use, at least falling and in the 20s by 5:00 and 20s by 7:00, plenty of sunshine by 9:00, temperatures still below freezing. we'll come back and we've lowered temperatures for tomorrow and we'll tell you what that means for the rest of the week. tonight 10 alleged ms13 gang members are off the streets after a string of federal raids in virginia, maryland and d.c. >> the interesting thing is for the first time around here, agents have used the reco statute to go after the violent gang. that's the federal law they use to dismantle organized crime and racketeering. we sat down with investigators who explained their operation and we're joined live. ken? >> reporter: derek and anita, it was in this neighborhood in 2008 that a 14 year old was stabbed to death. federal investigators say those responsible for it are alleged ms13 gang members. those gang members are listed in this 35 page indictment along with other ms13 gang members who are accused of doing a lot more. several years have passed since 14 year old jovani sanchez was murdered on the streets but the shock of what happened is still vivd in the minds of those who remember that day in 2008. >> it was just foul. you don't do that to a 14 year old. i feel sorry for him such a young age. >> federal investigators say among others several ms13 gang members mentioned in this indictment are the main suspects in that stabbing death. a total 11 members of ms13 have now been indicted for violent crimes through the reco act, a very powerful tool used by the fed's that serve as a catch all for charges in serving some of the most barbericross offenders. >> it brings together various different acts of violence that are being committed in the conspiracy, brings those charges together as a federal charge and brings significant penalties along with that. >> jims dickens is the executive director of homeland security investigations. the crimes committed by ms13 members listed in the indictments are violent crimes of opportunity. >> talking about murder, kidnapping, stabbing, shootings, and so forth. >> extortions? >> extortions, yes. >> among the 11 indicted, one is a woman. the rest are men who were arrested throughout the washington area in the district, maryland and virginia. >> evidence of gang activity is everywhere. looking for it is no harder than looking at some of the neighborhood walls but according to investigators the reason it's so hard to catch these is because they are transient, always on the move. >> they can have a law enforcement activity in one area and move to a smaller community in some cases or a larger community trying to avoid law enforcement. >> as this man points out activity is spread out. >> they're everywhere, like roaches. they are everywhere. >> and as we have mentioned, now the reco act comes with it brings with it some of the toughest penalties actually allowed by the law. just so that you know, all of these 11 indicted are facing life sentences in prison if they are convicted except for one, there is one of them that could face the death sentence if convicted. live tonight in columbia heights, 9 news now. now at 11, a mother watches a car jacker drive away with her minivan and four year old daughter still inside. this happened tonight at children's hospital in northwest d.c. police say the woman was climbing into her van when a man ran up, demanded the keys and drove off. he soon realized there was a child in there too. he dropped her out along franklin street in northeast. a passer-by saw the little girl and called police. mother and daughter have been reunited and police have arrested the suspect after spotting the stolen van in prince georges county. well new york congress member christopher lee resigned tonight after he sent a shirtless picture of himself to a woman he was flirting with on craig's list. >> the married congressman told her he was divorced and the lobbies at last check and gary still has his shirt on as he was preparing our report. gary? >> reporter: i noted no disappointment in your voice but the congressman wanted to get lucky anita, instead, he got caught. >> two constituents in western new york, he presented this image, their 46 year old congressman doing congressional things. to the woman he met online, the married father of one presented this image, shirtless and ready for fun. it started last month when a woman went on craigs list and posted in the woman looking for men category, will some men prove to me not all men look like toads? i promise not to disappoint, signed christopher lee. are you divorced she writes? yes, one child. you? lee responded? she went online and busted him and veteran capital hill reporter dave mcconnell. >> these are the republicans, family values folks. >> so wednesday evening, lee had a clerk read this. >> i here by give notice of my resignation from the united states house of representatives. >> he joins mark foley of interest in young pages fame, larry craig of wide stance in an airport mens room fame as former congressman. legacy, maybe trivial pursuit. >> on a scale of 10-11, he didn't jump into the title basin with fannie fox, a stripper but he company his pants on. >> the speaker of the house bob livingston admitting to an extra marie tall affair in 1998, he quit too but had the guts to do it in person. >> i shall ask my governor to call a special election. >> didn't end his washington career allowed him to make some money. >> he's gone on to be a very successful lobbyist off the hill because he had contacts, he had status. >> lees status, former congressman punch line and check craigs list two hours after he resigned this posting, hoping to catch a congressman. >> catch a congressman, lady that just happened. derek? >> oh, gary well there is yet another political shake up and this time it's down in the commonwealth. a lot more serious. many now wondering who will fill virginia democratic senator jim web's seat now he's announced he's not running for re-election. he says he will focus on reorienting national security policy, restoring economic fairness, social justice and bringing greater accountability to government. the retired marine won that seat just five years ago defeating republican incumbent george allen. >> i appreciate senator web's service to our country and the military and know that this decision was one that he went through with his family just like my family did when i made a decision to get back into it. >> as senator allen just mentioned he is running again. now he's going to likely face challenges on his right in his own party including tea party favorite jam it radke, and corey stuart. tonight a family is looking for justice after an fbi agent killed their son in a drunk driving crash. the deadly accident happened here in brandywine on monday. 18-year-old lawrence garner jr. died in that crash. a passenger in the teens car survived but has critical injuries. prince georges county police say the 37 year old fbi agent wasn't hurt and so far he has not been charged. >> a dunk fbi agent killed my son. i don't want this to just go away because he's a federal agent or whatever, fbi, i don't want this to just be swept under the rug. i don't this guy brought to justice. >> garner had graduated from gwynn park high school last year and worked at home depot in upper marlboro. prince georges county police as we said are investigating. a story you'll see only on 9. verizon is apologizing to a virginia lady who says she didn't have phone service for 12 days. the 86 year old gene mcchesney, it's more of an inconvenience. she had her phone hooked up to her medical alert system. her son says he spent a total of 15 hours on the phone talking to verizon trying to get her phone working again. gene was told it would be february 16th before the phone was fixed but yesterday she contacted us and then verizon told verizon 9 news now was going in on this and finally this morning her phone started to ring. >> it took the threat of calling into the television. >> verizon is now looking into what happened. they will take some steps to make sure it doesn't happen again but she still plans to switch to a different provider. still ahead tonight, anita has a health alert for you. >> it's called combuta, an ancient tea with a time less promise. feel energized and look better too. >> refreshed. >> i didn't see any benefits. >> you can make it at home or buy it for just $3. >> but does it work? and is so you may have seen something like this bottle i'm holding on the shelves of local health food stores. its been around for centuries all over the world. now, combuta is gaining popularity in the u.s.. in tonights health alert what's behind this new wellness craze. >> nick braymeier is stirring up some tea, but this isn't any ordinary herbal. he and many others claim this ancient brew can make a better you. >> after i drank it, i felt refreshed, rejuvenated. i had an increased energy and i felt more alive. >> it's a fermented tea that home brewers say also lenses the digestive tract, detoxifies the liver and improves skin and hair. the brewing process takes two weeks and it starts with a bacteria and yeast formed to make a mushroom shaped culture that's put into a vat of sweet tea. >> that's basically the mother that starts the process of fermenting and from there you have as much as you ever want. >> that is if you can get past the taste. >> it doesn't taste good. it's an acquired taste. it's very vinegar-like but after a while you develop a taste for it. >> but there have been possible health problems linked to home made combuta. in 1995 the cdc reported two women may have become ill from drinking the substance every day. one eventually died from excessive acid build up in her body. >> sheila didn't have any problems like that happen to her. she used home made combuta for her skin. >> i have a skin condition called dermatitis, and i've been on medication for a long time so i was trying to find an alternative way. this was one of those things they say would improve your skin and give you lots of benefits. >> but the arlington resident just didn't see it. >> i can't say it was fun making it, it was fun drinking it, it was fun to see the process, but i didn't see any benefits so i did it for a year and a half and then i give it. >> nick too has cut back to drinking it once a week instead of every day and he still believes in the benefits. >> yeah, it definitely improves the digestion and increases your metabolic activity. a lot of people substitute it with coffee in the morning. >> nick also says people get past the heavy acid taste by adding fruit juices and here on our desk we have home brewed tea, and the ones you buy in the store. >> so now the home brewed joint has shall we say gotten a little nasty? >> yeah, that's right. you absolutely cannot just keep it around. this is unfermented. >> so beyond the fact this is rotten and nasty what's the difference between this and the store bought? >> actually we talked to the company. they are made exactly the same way with this culture, but obviously, they've added fruit juices and things to make this much much more tasty. a lot of people do really like the store bought version. >> i wonder why. [laughter]. >> and the home version, again, when it's done right, supposedly it's an acquired taste but it's important. this is not pasturized. you need to keep it in the fridge and not drink it after the expiration date. >> how long ago did we make this? >> this is a little dated. this is a prop now. >> [laughter]. >> we are not drinking the home brew. >> okay. okay, tomorrow morning at 6:15 where you can get this and all, without all of the work of home brewing, and we also talked to a well known local nutritionist on its real benefits. that's tomorrow morning. >> it should be nice. earlier we told you about the story of republican congressman, chris lee. >> you know about him. the married representative who was reportedly sending him pictures of himself shirtless to a woman he met on craigs list in the personal ad section. we put that photo on our facebook page and we asked viewers to send in their own creative captions and here are the top three. >> okay, drum roll number 3: does this phone make me look fat? that one f is from joyce bradley. >> number 2, hi, baby i might not have a job tomorrow but i sure am pretty, from carletta. >> our number one pick? can you see me now from jennifer williams. you can keep sending your caption ideas to us. >> wusa9.com and click on our facebook page. >> it is kind of hard to believe. >> what are people thinking? you know? >> i don't know. nasty out there tonight? >> yeah, about a quarter inch of snow and upper 20s, low 30s and slick spots, so we showed you the accidents at the top of the show. especially bridges and overpasses and south of town. you folks in the north have no idea what i'm talking about. let's start with doppler 9,000. pretty good bands of snow south of town, down south 95 and over into maryland and most of charles county will zoom down to the south between leonardtown and fredricksburg, and pretty good snow going on. you folks down here could have an inch by morning, mechanicsville, even st. leonard and all snow for you folks in southern maryland who sometimes worry about mixing, but not tonight. this is a pretty good band of snow between route 5 and 301. back to the computer and temperature wise, upper 20s to around 30, and 30 downtown, 32 in college park but 20s to the west and reston and sterling and 28 in leesburg. there's a wider picture that you can see we're on the northern periphery of the precipitation and most will pass to the south, area of low pressure passing well to the south and this is out of here in the next couple hours, maybe three hours tops. you could have half an inch manassas, leesburg, maybe downtown and bullseye we can call it that into portions of southern maryland up to an inch by morning so could be a couple slick spots but pretty dry, fluffy snow. shouldn't be around that long as we get into the morning hours and traffic starts pushing the snow off the roads. so here is the deal. we're looking at light snow until about 2:00. i think maybe even 2:30 south of town and an inch or less and most to the south of town no doubt. snow over by the morning commute, so nothing will be falling but watch the bridges and overpasses tomorrow, and anything changes before bernstein will be in here tomorrow morning bright and early. mostly cloudy, cold, light snow ends late, lows in the 20s, this drives me crazy. i wish that were over a little bit. winds northwesterly at 10. i don't know. i'm a little anal, i know. in the morning breezy and cold, wind chills in the teens, temperatures in the 20s to around 30 and i had to lower temperatures tomorrow, mostly sunny and very cold, highs only 30-35 and winds northwesterly at 10 so we'll struggle to get above freezing tomorrow. good news is we'll be about 41 friday, above saturday up to 44, that's good news. the next seven days, still good news in the extended forecast, really. 50 sunday, okay maybe a sprinkle late but that's not bad. almost 50, on valentine's day sunshine, upper 40s on thus and then we're back into the mid 50s, if all goes according to plan by next wednesday and also with sunshine. that makes me mad but there you go. >> the little line there? it's nothing. >> yeah. >> let it go. there was a time when we despaired of our hoyas wondering if they would win any big games. >> they did not have a good start to the new year but like on a dime they turned it around and they aren't obsessing at all tonight. >> [laughter]. >> something happened to georgetown about four weeks ago and it was all good and the roll continues tonight against the q's plus the wizards get light against the milwaukee and the death stare from that young man that well, georgetown was flying into syracuse last night and got diverted to rochester, that was pretty much par for the course for the hoyas. they have not stuck the landing in syracuse since 2001. eight straight losses at the carrier dome but that streak ended tonight. let's hope pop a thompson is asleep at this hour and not seeing that, though he would have liked his sons team this evening. one of his three three pointers in the game, it would be tied at 55, three minutes to go and big takeaway by the hoyas, and chris right, length of the court to austin freeman who had 14 and just about the most pretty back door pass you will ever see right there, julian vaughn to jason clark, hoyas win seven straight now eight and four in the big east. >> in college park going out of conference, one last time, the terps against longwood, to jordan williams nicely done. he had nine and 11 and no reason for gary to sweat through even one shirt tonight. he again, terps more than double up, 106-52 and boston college saturday will be a little tougher. >> at foggy bottom, gw hosting the richmond spiders, this is richmond in red and in the corner over there is darien brothers knocking down three and they fall by four and now 12th 12 overall. >> 16, 108 people showed up to see the wizards and the bucks tonight. two teams who have combined to go 34 games under 500 this year, which makes them the most dedicated basketball games on earth, or they knew that the wizards were due for a gem tonight, and they got one at the phone booth, big part of that gem was nick young continuing his breakout season and dunking right in the mug of sova, 26 for young and he actually played defense there too. there's young with the steal and gets it back and six wizards and double figures winning 100-85. why can't they do that more often. >> in arlington, the caps held their annual hockey and heels clinic designed to introduce the game of hockey to more women. there were more than 250 female fans through the basics of the game and everyone who attended got a ticket to the caps game against the islanders next month. pretty good deal. >> time now to pick this weeks d.c..high school sports.net game of the week. on the menu, broad run at dominion, mcnama a good council, oakton trying to rebound from the controversy, cast your vote at d.c..high school sports.net. >> few would argue that chris samuels was the redskins most successful offensive linemen since the hogs. he went to six pro bowls in 10 seasons with the burgundy and gold but he's moving on. the post reports samuels has take in a job as the offensive coordinator at a high school in his home state of alabama. samuels retired due to injury in 2009 and spent last season as a coaching intern for the redskins. he will be missed. >> finally tonight, how is this for in tummy indication. right there is la kings player jack johnson in the penalty box and lack at that kid! he's a minnesota fan and he's going to starex him to death for the full two minutes of the penalty. the uninterrupted, i mean i'm a grown man and i'm scared. what's that, billy? you want more? have all you want. >> he waves at him, nothing. >> the guy was trying to break it. >> and the guy back on the ice never the same. >> his skate was messed up. >> we'll