BENTON HARBOR — In the drug pool, police say the arrests of drug suppliers and members of a Benton Harbor street gang a year-and-a-half ago were a small catch. Now federal authorities say they got the big one.

Three men charged with pushing crack cocaine and heroin in Southwest Michigan were sentenced earlier this week. It's part of a clean sweep local police, FBI and the US Attorneys Office are making to transform drug-ridden neighborhoods.

Keeping Benton Harbor streets clean is James Sims' job.

Each morning before sunrise, Sims boards his street sweeping truck. Then, he gets to work.

The city of Benton Harbor is not only his employer; it's also the place where he was raised.

Over the years, he's noticed a lot has changed.

Recently, Sims said Bishop Street and the surrounding area has made a clean sweep of its own, after rampant drug use made the streets unsafe.

"Bishop Street has always had that reputation where those transactions would happen," said Sims.

Then drug dealers and members of the Bishop Boyz street gang were arrested a year-and-a-half ago.

"This group back in the day controlled the Bishop Street/Jennings area," said Capt. Robert O'Brien of the Benton Harbor Police. "It was like a four or five block area and we were constantly being called there."

Drug-related charges were filed against Deric Balark, Reginald Bland, Anthony Lloyd, Shawn Echols, Tyrone Hitchcock and Larry Hooks after a decades-long investigation.

"That area isn't considered the area of the Bishop Street Boyz anymore because of the efforts of the group here," said O'Brien.

Federal authorities say a conclusion in this investigation and plea deal from one of the defendants also led to the arrest of Michael Clark, Quintel Clark, Carlos Powell and Lemarco Taylor.

Officials from the FBI and the US Attorneys Office say Clark was a large supplier charged and sentenced earlier this week for pushing crack cocaine and heroine on Southwest Michigan streets.

"The ultimate goal is to completely dismantle the organization," said John King, Supervisory Special Agent with the FBI.

Charges against Quintel Taylor were dismissed; but the three remaining pleaded guilty to drug related charges.

Sentences were reduced for Clark and Taylor after they agreed to a plea deal.

Increased attention from police and the series of arrests is part of the detour this once troubled neighborhood has made toward rebuilding its reputation.