Federal indictment targets MS-13, anti-gang activist

Federal authorities said today they have arrested two dozen members and associates of the Mara Salvatrucha gang, who were allegedly involved in a series of crimes in Los Angeles over the last 15 years, including conspiracy, extortion, witness intimidation and murder.

The arrests cap a three-year investigation into the gang and its cliques, which operated in the Lafayette Park area, west of downtown. Among the most serious allegations contained in a 16-count federal indictment unsealed today was the claim gang members conspired to murder veteran LAPD gang officer Frank Flores.

Those named in the indictment include Alex Sanchez, a nationally recognized anti-gang leader and executive director of Homies Unidos. Federal authorities accuse him of conspiring to commit murder in May 2006, during the time he was involved in anti-gang outreach efforts, although Flores was not the target. They did not provide details on the murder plot.

MS-13 allegedly killed seven people and conspired to kill another eight since 1985, authorities said.

Asst. Chief U.S. Atty. George Cardona said in a news conference that Sanchez was a shot-caller with the Normandie clique of MS-13 and conspired to commit the 2006 killing during the time his organization was taking public and private funds.

"He took public funds while furthering the gang," Cardona said.

LAPD Chief William J. Bratton said the Sanchez case reinforces the thinking behind the city’s efforts to consolidate and more strongly regulate anti-gang funding.

-- Richard Winton and Andrew Blankstein

Comments

[Alan Hamilton]

Kudos to the FBI, US Attorney's Office and the Task Force on a job well done.....

Frank Flores is one of the best at what he does . I am not surprised by his outstanding results because he has been doing a great job for this City for years in targeting violent gang predators and removing them from the streets. It is unfortunate that he has been targeted by Mara Salvatrucha as a result of his efforts to keep the City of Los Angeles safe. Unfortunate but not surprising..... Hopefully no one in the Mara Salvatrucha gang will be stupid enough to attempt to harm Frank or any other law enforcement officers as a result of this outstanding investigation.

Great job as always brother and stay safe out there. The other ten thousand of us have your six.....

[Sean Leys]

I've worked with Alex, this is crazy! This is LAPD corruption at it's most blatant. It's is an obvious example of the LAPD trying to tell a lie big enough that people are afraid not to believe it.

[Joshua Kim]

I do not have all the facts. But, given that Alex Sanchez explicitly tried to reach out to former and current MS-13 gang members in an effort to turn them away from their gang life, it is not surprising that a zealous prosecutor might seize upon his ties to them to indict and convict him of "conspiracy" with them.

Homies Unidos does a great work in Los Angeles and nationally to rehabilitate gang youths. It is my sincere hope that this frustrating turn of events not take away from its work, especially in these tough economic times. And my prayers are with Alex and his family, as he receives criminal prosecution instead of thanks for all the invaluable work he has done for our society.

[JBuck]

Hey Sean,

The Feds are running the case not the LAPD. Get your facts straight.

[sjt]

when the government needs all the help it can get about gang activity, why would it indict someone without proof?
especially someone who appears to help the community?

[Kevin]

I have met Alex, heard him give lectures about how bad gangs are and why not to join them. This man is innocent this is just more idiocy of this government accusing those who help with bs like this.

[Honestly, enough is enough.]

Ahhhh... another anti-gang activist is revealed to be a double agent. Throw the book at him. In fact, throw the book at all of them, with an iron fist like they use in China. Executions and deportations might go some way toward stamping out gang culture here once and for all.

Gangs have no place in society, none, and their families are first and foremost to blame for their ascension. Latino parents across the country should beg their God for forgiveness as many have deliberately abetted crime by feigning ignorance and allowing--even encouraging--their sons and daughters to undermine centuries of civilization by choosing to join what are sophisticated criminal enterprises. Who's buying the t-shirts, the spray paint, the cars? Mami y papi, that's who.

At their heart, gang members understand only power politics and violence--so I say, give them what they want. They worship Death! Start fast-tracking the executions, as these idiots seem to delight even in jail time. I'm tired of the pandering politicians' lies and simpering leftie solutions to this very real threat to domestic stability.

[jeff]

The Weekly is reporting that councilmembers Cardenas, Ed Reyes and Garcetti have been active supporters of Sanchez and his Homies United. Janice Hahn was alleged to be involved with a similar character in her own program. To first poster blaming LAPD, why don't you read more carefully: this was a targeting of an LAPD officer but the indictment comes from the FBI, US Attorney's office and broader coalition.

Bratton seems correct, that this shows why anti-gang programs need to be consolidated under the Mayor's office and much more closely monitored.

The Weekly's story (which they admit is in progress, just a draft) mentions the mayor's name among those who recently honored Sanchez, but that's because these councilmembers persuaded him to. He must however stop going along with things just because people ask him to, writing a letter for Nunez' son and Vignali other cases in point. Loyalty to other Latinos who may have helped him in the past is not how he's going to improve his image during this next term.

He's done nothing wrong that anyone can claim, but with the perception of Latino politicians being what it is they must try harder, just like Irish and other Catholic pols have had to try to prove they're not all hypocritical alcoholics who make a big show of going to mass and donating to a charity, then feel absolved to sin for another week. In Antonio's case, being seen as a party boy with another airheaded Twittering tv reporter (looking at her Twitter site) has to give way to showing he can be in control of gang and budget problems.

[Josh]

This is extremely disturbing and quite hard to believe. I am a fan of the work of Alex Sanchez's organization Homies Unidos, and would like to see the evidence presented against him.

[Pam]

I have to shake my head at the comment that since the person worked with Alex Sanchez, he couldn't possibly be guilty and that LAPD corruption is why he was arrested by the Feds! How naive can you be? I grew up with these kinds of gangs and I knew people like Sanchez who just love to con naive little white guys! They are damn good manipulators and great at BSing government agencies and civilian supporters because people like that are really easily fooled by these guys. I wonder if the writer of that comment has the same compassion for the misery in the neighborhood that these gang members cause? I doubt it.

[Samuel]

Thank you FBI!! Also thank you President Nixon for letting these thugs into our country; they were supposed to go back to El Salvador after their country's civil war ended, remember? Instead they have turned a once beautiful La Fayette Park into a ghetto, where the local library had to take down its nightime drop box because these thugs kept stealing the dvds and cds inside. They oppose any beautifcation efforts in this area by consistently tagging architectural gems and new buildings under construction.

This is my one issue with Bratton; he doesn't appear to be doing much about putting these thugs in prison and out of our lives for good.

[bigjonmustafa]

Does anyone else want to know why the Mayor declined to run for State Office?

[Mr. Cynic]

Wow... they could have targeted real dangerous gang members instead they target those who WERE involved in gangs but are now LEGITIMATELY trying to break that cycle after having paid their debts to society. Homies Unidos has done way more to prevent gangs from growing, and existing, than LAPD or FBI has, or ever, will do. Trust me. My friends have reformed because of people like Mr. Sanchez, not a top level government agent who see them as relentless and hopeless thugs and criminals. This is yet another despicable example of this country trying to rip our community to shreds, forever keeping us poor and ignorant.

Why not go after the Minute Men and all those crazy groups who ARE assaulting, beating and murdering people? Why not target those groups who are explicitly spreading hate and conspiring not only against individuals, but against whole communities?

STOP imprisoning our community leaders! They are a strong defense against the manipulation and oppression this country burdens on people of color.

Damn, i really hate the "leaders" of this ignorant nation and all you blind followers who swallow any garbage any "government official" spews.

[LisaBeLove]

Looks like a few of us have forgotten some historical facts... Who would the 'thugs' go back to? Their families were murdered by batallions trained at the U.S. School of the Americas with U.S. taxpayer money. Ever heard of the Escuadron de Muerte (Death Squad)?? those were the original military GANGS (financed by the US) who created terror for 12 years if not more in El Salvador. It wasnt civil war it was slaughter. The trauma runs deep...and now we are all paying for it. And you want gangs to stop growing? Stop revising history, quit invading poor countries, create living wage jobs here, and invest in public education so that the children of these families this government helped displace can heal and carry a life of dignity. The blood is in your own hands when you look at no other than yourself.

[Mr. Cynic]

applauds LisaBeLove

[crissyo]

To all of you who are responding with the "this is a government conspiracy" or "I have met Alex":

For the past nine months, Homies Unidos has been running one of their "gang intervention programs" in my classroom, once a week. where the funding comes from, I don't know, but I am CERTAIN they are welcomed guests of the LAUSD. Over the nine months, I have heard their moderators spew the MOST VENOMOUS anti-LAPD, anti-government rhetoric, to urge the children in the class to view the police as criminals, and disseminate outright FALSEHOODS AND LIES concerning many aspects of life, especially in the seminar they ran on sexual responsibility and education. It is not in the least surprising, to myself or any of my colleagues who have sat through these ridiculous seminars, to hear this story today. While I am sure that in many ways Alex probably meant well, we have to be far more vigilant, THIS MEANS YOU LAUSD AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, who we set out as role models for our children.

Please, before you comment, try to sit through six of their seminars without your stomach churning in disgust.

[Sean Leys]

Just because this is run by the feds doesn't mean the LAPD is not in any way involved. Some of you need to look a little deeper before thinking you know who has the facts and who doesn't.

MS is an international gang with it's roots in L.A. Who do you think the feds go to when they work on MS here in America? LAPD Chief Bratton. When the Salvadoran and Guatemalan police need an American "expert" on working with MS who flies down for consultations and conferences? LAPD Chief Bratton.

The only naive people posting here are the ones who think that think they can trust law enforcement all the time every time. No one has done more to make Los Angeles safe than Alex Sanchez and he deserves better than this.

[Deanna]

i think m-s is a strong gang and there is no way police can take m-s down