61 gang members, associates indicted on federal drug, weapons charges

Federal and local law enforcement officials announced Thursday that they had arrested and indicted dozens of gang members or their associates suspected of distributing weapons as well as large quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine and methamphetamine.

The members of different gangs -- 61 people in all -- were named in six different federal indictments aimed at breaking the back of the distribution network of illegal drugs and weapons. Most of the suspects face between 10 and 20 years in federal prison if convicted of all charges.

The operation was centered in the Harbor Gateway area of Los Angeles as well as Long Beach and La Puente, where federal authorities allege that members of at least 10 gangs acted as suppliers for gangs in other parts of Los Angeles and Southern California.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with Immigration Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Los Angeles Police Department arrested at least 40 gang members or their associates in coordinated pre-dawn raids, according to Thom Mrozek, spokesman with the U.S. attorney's office.

[For the record, 1:27 p.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly said the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency participated in the raids.]

More than 800 federal and local law enforcement officers were involved in Operation Red Rein.

The largest of the half-dozen indictments targeted members of the Eastside Pain gang suspected of trafficking in kilos of cocaine. Members of Puente 13 were involved in the distribution of 55 pounds of methamphetamine, according to the indictment.

Also named in the indictments were members of East Side Wilmas, North Side Wilmas, Harbor City Crips, Compton Avenue Crips, Fruit Town Piru, El Monte Flores and Primera Flats.

The operation carried out Thursday morning was an outgrowth of arrests two years ago targeting street gangs in the "ghost town" area of Wilmington, authorities said.

-- Andrew Blankstein

Photo: LAPD Officer Tony Lobato, left, of the Harbor Division, and ATF Special Agent Christian Hoffman carry some of the confiscated weapons at the Harbor Station in San Pedro. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

 

Comments

[art]

Legislator keep making tougher gun control laws and penalties yet gangmembers buy guns like candy. What's wrong with this picture! Let hardworking and law abiding citizens have guns, at least they can stand up to these animals.

[Deke]

You know those gang members who are illegal, selling drugs and guns are only looking for a better life !! Why did it take 800 officers to arrest 61 people? Nice that they took down some, but there are thousands of bangers running around.

[bby_417]

maybe their defense is the cocaine and meth is for medicinal purposes. let's make cocaine and meth legal. that will solve the problem! I don't think so.

[Hollywood Kev]

While 61 gang members are being taken down, 61,000+ more are being recruited. It's like a merry go round that never stops!

[Kevin Middleton]

"Holy cow",the crime statisics show Los Angeles far ahead of us Kiwis, scary stuff.
Many years ago I had an opportunity to travel out of New Zealand & decided on Europe or America or Asia.
Not interested in Europe as it appears to be too fragmented in culture & everybody goes there,next was America,too many people with guns there,next was Asia?where China/Thailand/Mynmar/Laos, I was impressed & blown away & totally shocked & gob-smacked at what I saw & the people I met there.
Too many poor people on the bottom of everything,not enough good "tucka" to feed everyone all the time.
I'm thinking thank you God for showing me what not to do with what little money I get.
Sometimes having vision to see the problems gets lost in actually doing something about it,it all starts at the top with the person/s in charge so doing something about crime in general is a start to helping create a safe environment so we can all live happily.

[Melvin Painter]

61 democrats will not be voting Nov. 2nd.

[impoundguy]

I hope they check their legal status......I'm taking bets!

[George]

Why 800 law enforcement officers for 61 targets? Simple military tactics: overwhelming force equals minimal losses to both sides and a quicker resolution. 800 offficers versus 61 targets equals 13 to 14 officers to safely arrest you and handle any hostile response from your family, friends and neighbors. In other words, less of a chance that anyone gets hurt.

[Teri]

Kudos to law enforcement. How many were illegal aliens. Get these criminal gang bangers out of here,so no ones son is killed, like the Shaws of L.A.

[Deke]

Why does it take 800 federal and local law enforcement officers and 2 years to arrest 61 gang bangers?? Glad they got them but c'mon......