Transnational Gangs

El Centro, Calif.—In a “fatal blow” to one of the most extensive, organized and violent extortion and drug trafficking operations in Imperial County history, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the successful prosecution of all 31 members of a Mexican Mafia cell.

Early this week, the leader of the cell, Patrick Ralph Ponce, 44, of Imperial County, pleaded guilty to drug, weapon, kidnapping and extortion charges, making him the last of 31 gang members to plead guilty to charges brought by Brown’s office. The final conviction concludes “Operation Gangland,” which began in 2005 and ultimately shut down a major Mexican Mafia cell spread across Imperial and San Diego Counties.

“This Mexican Mafia cell was one of the most violent extortion and drug trafficking rings California’s border region has ever seen,” Brown said. “With the convictions of all 31 gang members, we’ve dealt a fatal blow to their criminal enterprise and they will spend a long, long time in prison.”

Originally indicted in August 2007, the gang members have collectively been sentenced to more than 200 years in prison.

In 2005, officials from the California Attorney General’s Office, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office formed the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force to investigate the Mexican Mafia’s criminal activities.

The investigation uncovered a widespread drug smuggling and extortion operation directed by Mexican Mafia cell leader Patrick Ponce. The cell used “tax collectors” in El Centro, Calexico, Brawley, Heber, Holtville, Calipatria, and Niland to extort funds from anyone engaged in illegal activity, such as drug sales or immigrant smuggling. Those who refused or failed to pay were attacked by Ponce’s enforcers. The “taxes” would be split between the gang member who collected them, Ponce and other gang leaders.

Additionally, Ponce ran a heroin and methamphetamine trafficking operation, distributing and selling narcotics throughout the region. Ponce ordered gang members with outstanding warrants to surrender themselves to officers so that illegal contraband hidden on these individuals could be smuggled into the Imperial County Jail. Gang members attacked anyone who failed to carry out orders.

Over the course of the investigation, agents captured Ponce on wiretaps ordering assaults, setting extortion rates and arranging drug sales.

Following the investigation, Brown’s office assisted Imperial County District Attorney Gilbert G. Otero in preparing the case against the gang. In August 2007, the case was presented to the San Diego County criminal grand jury, which returned a 46-count indictment against 31 members of the cell. Over the past two and a half years, Brown’s office has successfully prosecuted all 31 gang members, including:

• Patrick Ralph Ponce (“Pato”), 44, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to kidnapping; two counts of extortion; selling methamphetamine; and supplying a firearm to a felon and is expected to be sentenced to 22 years in state prison;
• Marc Anthony Villasenor (“Joker”), 31, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to assault likely to cause great bodily injury; selling heroin; and assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 20 years, 8 months in state prison;
• Raul Antonio Cruz, Jr. (“Jr.”), 33, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to assault with a firearm; three counts of extortion; and three counts of supplying a firearm to a felon and was sentenced to 16 years in state prison;
• Ezequiel Ernesto Rodriguez (“Neto”), 39, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to extortion and admitted carrying a firearm during a gang crime and was sentenced to 15 years in state prison;
• Victorianao Ortiz (“Cyco”), 30, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 14 years in state prison;
• Raul Vega Mejia (“Pollo”), 37, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted extortion; two counts of extortion; carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle; and being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 13 years in state prison;
• Gabriel Anthony Valles (“Guero”), 47, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and admitted carrying a firearm during a gang crime and was sentenced to 9 years in state prison;
• Marco Araujo, 54, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell heroin and three counts of selling heroin and was sentenced to 9 years in state prison;
• Juan Antonio Hornback (“Duke”), 31, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to selling heroin and was sentenced to 9 years in state prison;
• Jose Manuel Zepeda, 31, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and extortion and was sentenced to 9 years in state prison;
• Victor Ruby (“Outlaw”), 38, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to assault likely to cause great bodily injury and was sentenced to 8 years in state prison;
• David Paez Martinez (“Deebo”), 32, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to extortion; two counts of attempted extortion; assault with a firearm; and felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 7 years in state prison;
• Luis Hector Munoz (“Clepto”), 30, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and extortion and was sentenced to 7 years in state prison;
• Gerardo Robles (“Gerry”), 29, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell heroin and selling heroin and was sentenced to 7 years in state prison;
• Jose Espinoza (“Chuck”), 26, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to extortion; receiving stolen property and possession of an assault weapon and was sentenced to 6 years, 4 months in state prison;
• Jaime Alejandro Perez (“Beef”), 26, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to attempted extortion and is expected to be sentenced to 6 years in state prison;
• Jorge Cuevas Mendoza (“Twinx”), 25, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell heroin and was sentenced to 5 years in state prison;
• Antonio Padilla (“Kasper”), 34, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell heroin and was sentenced to 4 years in state prison;
• Refugio Castellanos Servin, 43, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to selling heroin and was sentenced to 4 years in state prison;
• Manuel Estrada Solarez (“Chile”), 54, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to selling heroin and was sentenced to 4 years in state prison;
• Juan Cordero (“Pollo”), 31, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell heroin and was sentenced to 3 years in state prison;
• Max Ponce, Jr. (“Mad Max”), 53, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell heroin and was sentenced to 3 years in state prison;
• Anthony Edward Favela (“Shadow”), 37, of San Diego County, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell heroin and was sentenced to 3 years in state prison;
• Judy Ann Huerta, 29, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell heroin and was sentenced to 3 years in state prison;
• Brian Mark Smith (“Dusty”), 34, of San Diego County, who pleaded guilty to supplying a firearm to a felon and was sentenced to 2 years in state prison;
• Joe Alberto Tamayo (“Drak”), 36, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to extortion and was sentenced to 2 years in state prison;
• Rudy Raymond Ferrel, Jr., 36, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to perjury and was sentenced to 2 years in state prison;
• Armando Salvador Leon (“Fooskie”), 49, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and was sentenced to formal probation, 435 days jail;
• Eden Macias Portugal, 34, of Imperial County, who pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and was sentenced to summary probation, 355 days jail;
• Maricela Smith, 48, of San Diego County, who pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and was sentenced to formal probation, 234 days jail; and
• Ruby Flores Mendez, 35, of San Diego County, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell methamphetamine and is expected to be sentenced to formal probation.

Over the course of the investigation, agents also seized a large number of firearms, heroin and methamphetamine.

“I want to give special thanks to the members of Attorney General Brown’s San Diego office for all the hard work and effort expended to bring this case to a successful conclusion,” said Imperial County District Attorney Gilbert G. Otero. “This is just another example of what can be accomplished when federal, state and local law enforcement officers work together for the common good of the citizens of California.”

"With these guilty pleas, all agencies involved in this investigation have dealt a significant blow to the leadership of this criminal organization,' said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge at the Imperial County Office Timothy A. Jennings. 'This should send a clear message to the drug traffickers that the DEA and our outstanding law enforcement partners will not tolerate drug trafficking and the related criminal activities in our community. I think that these arrests make the community a little bit safer for the citizens of Imperial County'.

Other law enforcement agencies that assisted with the investigation included the El Centro Police Department, Imperial County Sheriff's Office, Calexico Police Department, Brawley Police Department, Holtville Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, Imperial County Narcotic Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A copy of the original 46-count indictment against the 31 gang members is attached.

Riverside, Calif.—Following three “brazen attempts to kill” police officers in the past several weeks, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today joined Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco, Riverside County Sheriff Stanley Sniff, Hemet Police Chief Richard Dana and Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone to urge the public to come forward with any information on these incidents.

There is currently a $200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for these attacks.

“These brazen attempts to kill police officers in the line of duty are an outrage, and even a form of urban terrorism. Our brave men and women in uniform put their lives on the line every day to keep our streets safe,” Brown said. “We urge anyone with information on the attacks to come forward immediately.”

Today’s plea follows three separate potentially deadly attacks targeting members of the Hemet Gang Task Force, including:

• On Dec. 31, 2009, criminals targeted the unmarked Hemet Gang Task Force headquarters, redirecting the natural gas line on the roof into the building to fill the office with potentially deadly gas. With the flip of a light switch or an electrical spark, the building could have exploded, leveling an entire city block.

• On Feb. 23, 2010, criminals targeted officers at the same Hemet Gang Task Force headquarters, carefully hiding and attaching a homemade zip gun to a security gate outside of the building. As a task force member opened the gate, the weapon fired, missing the officer’s head by inches.

• On March 5, 2010, criminals targeted a task force member who had parked an unmarked police car in front of a convenience store in Hemet. When the officer returned to the car, he found what appeared to be a homemade pipe bomb hidden underneath the vehicle. Had the device detonated, it could have killed the officer and others nearby.

“These obvious attempts to murder law enforcement officers - who each day put their lives on the line to rid our communities of violent gang members - are indicators of the callousness of these domestic terrorists,” said District Attorney Rod Pacheco. “These criminals are willing to put the lives of the residents of this county in extreme jeopardy while targeting those who have chosen to protect those same residents.”

Anyone with information about these attacks is asked to call the Hemet Police Department Tip Line at: 951-765-3897.

The $200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for these attacks includes $100,000 from the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, $50,000 from the Governor’s Office, $20,000 from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, $10,000 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, $10,000 from the City of Hemet and $10,000 from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

Brown’s office is assisting local officials with the investigation into these attacks.

Imperial, Calif. – Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced at a news conference today that, working with Imperial County District Attorney Gilbert Otero, his office has secured indictments against 16 individuals and seized over 550 pounds of cocaine and marijuana, dealing a “body blow” to Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa drug cartel.

The indictments and seizures come as part of “Operation Silver Fox,” a joint investigation between the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, the Imperial County Narcotic Task Force, Imperial County District Attorney Otero, and Imperial County Sheriff Raymond Loera.

“This notorious cartel smuggled massive quantities of cocaine and marijuana into Southern California, fueling addiction and violence across the nation,” Brown said. “Through a very dangerous and courageous undercover operation, the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement and Imperial County Narcotic Task Force has dealt a body blow to this syndicate and seized hundreds of pounds of narcotics.”

Initiated in January 2009, the investigation found that the Mexican cartel smuggled drugs into Southern California—often through the Calexico ports of entry using vehicles equipped with hidden compartments—and would subsequently distribute the drugs to buyers in cities throughout the United States and Canada.

The 8-month investigation included more than 100 surveillance operations (carried out in Bell Gardens, Calexico, Colton, Fontana, Los Angeles, Ontario, Pacoima, Rialto, Riverside and San Diego), 30 undercover meetings and the execution of 6 search warrants. The operations resulted in the seizure of:

• 420 pounds of cocaine and 136 pounds of marijuana, with a combined street value of more than $19 million;
• $1.7 million in U.S. currency; and
• 9 firearms, including 7 handguns and 2 assault rifles.

In addition to smuggling drugs across the border, the cartel also purchased cocaine from other drug traffickers in San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Imperial Counties. The drugs were ultimately distributed to local buyers in Southern California, Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Canada in large monthly shipments.

A March 2009 operation, for instance, resulted in the seizure of a large cargo truck used as a cocaine vault to distribute more than 1,000 pounds of drugs every month to Canada, for two years. The seizure came after agents followed a vehicle from Imperial County to an auto repair shop in Pomona. At the shop, agents seized 51 pounds of cocaine from hidden compartments in the vehicle and an additional 119 pounds of cocaine from the cargo truck vault.

In addition to the vehicle, cargo truck and cocaine seized in Pomona, the following vehicles were seized over the course of the investigation:

• 1996 Honda Accord with 37.4 pounds of cocaine hidden in the vehicle in February 2009;
• 2003 Ford Expedition with 37.4 pounds of cocaine hidden in the vehicle in February 2009;
• 2000 Ford Excursion with $19,106 hidden in the vehicle in February 2009;
• 2000 Nissan Xterra with 81 pounds of cocaine hidden in the vehicle in March 2009;
• 2003 Toyota 4Runner with $658,470 hidden in the vehicle in March 2009;
• 2007 GMC Yukon with $738,960 hidden in the vehicle in April 2009;
• 2003 GMC Pick-up truck with 97 pounds of cocaine hidden in the vehicle in April 2009;
• 2001 Dodge Pick-up truck involved in the purchase of 22 pounds of cocaine in May 2009; and
• 2001 Dodge Dakota involved in the purchase of 22 pounds of cocaine in May 2009.

Based on the results of the investigation, the Imperial County Grand Jury indicted the following 16 suspects:

• Marco Mendoza, 43, of South Gate, Calif. was arrested in March 2009 and is being held in Los Angeles County Jail;
• Gerald William Andrews, 42, of Pacoima, Calif. was arrested in July 2009 and is being held in Imperial County Jail;
• Lorena Lara, 29, of Fontana, Calif. was arrested in August 2009 and is being held in San Bernardino County Jail;
• Juan Berumen Sandoval, 44, of Rialto, Calif. was arrested in August 2009 and is being held in Imperial County Jail;
• Juan Gabriel Molina, 28, of South Gate, Calif.;
• Hilario Lopez Rodriguez, 43, of Pacoima, Calif.;
• Norberto Ruelas Urias, 39, of Long Beach, Calif.;
• Ramon Valenzuela, 33, of South Gate, Calif.;
• Rodrigo Grijalva, 31, of Mexicali, Mexico;
• Jose Abraham Guzman, 26, of Mexicali, Mexico;
• Cesar Yaserf Lara, 21, of Mexicali, Mexico;
• Sergio Villagrana Murillo, 62, of Mexicali, Mexico; and
• Four other suspects whose names are being withheld to avoid compromising future arrests.

The investigation is ongoing. Brown’s agents continue to work with U.S., Mexico and local law enforcement officials to apprehend the outstanding suspects.

In addition to the news conference, Brown today met with Mexico, U.S., state and local law enforcement officials to discuss how to improve intelligence gathering, law enforcement action and cross-border collaboration. This includes a first-of-its-kind meeting between Brown, Mexico’s Baja California Attorney General, the Imperial County District Attorney and Sheriff.

Los Angeles -- Fighting to protect students facing “wanton gang violence,” Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich have won a court-ordered preliminary injunction creating a 1.4 square-mile gang-free zone around Fremont High School in Los Angeles.

This injunction is the first-of-its-kind and would impose significant restrictions on members of four violent street gangs (the Swan Bloods, Florencia 13, the Main Street Crips, and the 7-Trey Hustlers/Gangster Crips) to prevent them from assembling with other gang members and from harassing and intimidating law-abiding citizens.

“Fremont High Students are terrorized by wanton gang violence on a daily basis, as they head back and forth from school,” Brown said. “By creating this gang-free zone, this injunction will shield students from violence and intimidation and help foster a better environment in which to learn.”

A complaint seeking this injunction was initially filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday, June 12, 2009. The injunction granted today will create the “Fremont Free Passage Safety Zone” to prevent gang activity in the 1.4 square-mile neighborhood surrounding Fremont High School in Los Angeles.

This safety zone will be bounded by Florence Avenue to the north, Central Avenue to the east, Manchester Avenue to the south and the 110 Freeway to the west and extends 100 yards beyond each of these boundaries.

To protect all residents in the Fremont High School neighborhood, gang members must obey a night time curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. The injunction also prevents gang members from:

• Standing, sitting, walking, driving, gathering or appearing anywhere in public view, in a public place or in any place accessible to the public, with any other known gang member in the zone;

• Confronting, intimidating, annoying, harassing, threatening, challenging, provoking, assaulting, or battering any person who lives in, works in, visits or passes through the zone;

• Possessing any firearm, ammunition or weapon, whether or not concealed, in a public place or in any place accessible to the public within the zone;

• Selling, transporting, possessing or using, any controlled substance, drug or drug-related paraphernalia within the zone;

• Acting as a lookout by whistling, yelling, or signaling to warn another person engaged in unlawful or nuisance activity of the approach of law enforcement officers within the zone;

• Obstructing, impeding or blocking the free passage of any person or vehicle on any street, walkway, sidewalk, driveway, alley or parking lot within the zone;

• Drinking or possessing an open container of an alcoholic beverage in public within the safety zone;

• Damaging, defacing, marking, painting or otherwise applying graffiti to any public or private property or possessing any item to carry out such acts within the zone;

• Loitering in public for the purpose of tagging graffiti, drug-related activity or any other unlawful or nuisance activity within the zone; and

• Being present in or on the property of another person that is not open to the general public without the owner’s consent within the zone.

This injunction stems from a nine-month investigation into the gang activity of the Swan Bloods, Florencia 13, the Main Street Crips, and the 7-Trey Hustlers/Gangster Crips around Fremont High School. The 77th Division of the Los Angeles Police Department gathered and provided the evidence necessary to take action.

The investigation found that gang members frequently confronted, threatened, intimidated, assaulted, and robbed Fremont High School students traveling to and from school. These gangs also vandalized property, trespassed, loitered and sold and used drugs on sidewalks and streets near the school. For example:

• In April 2009, a young male was shot by a young female in broad daylight right next to Fremont High School on 79th Street and Avalon Boulevard.

• In March 2009, Swan Blood gang members attacked a young woman from behind in broad daylight and stole her necklace at a laundromat adjacent to Fremont High School on 78th Street and San Pedro Street.

• In February 2009, a Main Street Crip gang member armed with a handgun took a family hostage seven blocks from Fremont High School on 84th Street between Main Street and Wall Street after running from an LAPD officer.

• In November 2008, three Swan Blood gang members approached a 16-year-old student from behind, knocked him to the ground, punched and kicked him in the head and face, knocked him unconscious, and took his property. The crime occurred about four blocks from Fremont High School on McKinley Avenue at 80th Street.

• In October 2008, a 7-Trey Hustlers/Gangster Crips gang member shot into crowd of rival Swan Blood gang members with an assault rifle about one block from Fremont High School at 76th Street and San Pedro Street, killing an eight-year-old girl.

• In 2008, Florencia 13 gang members surrounded a Fremont High School student, asked him where he was from, yelled out, “This is Florencia!” proceeded to punch and kick him, and stole his money and electronics. The crime occurred less than one block from Fremont High School at 79th Street and Avalon Boulevard.

• In October 2007, a Florencia 13 gang member tried to stab a 15-year-old student walking home with a screw driver. Five to six gang members then punched and kicked the student, causing an eye abrasion, swelling to both sides of his face, bloody lips, a bump on his head and vomiting.

• In June 2007, a Swan Blood gang member murdered two young men in an alley about six blocks from Fremont High School, near 84th Street and San Pedro Street.

Many of the crimes around Fremont High School go unreported because victims and witnesses face the threat of retaliation and violence if they talk to police.

The complaint contends that this gang activity infringes on the constitutional right of students to obtain a public education on a safe, secure, and peaceful campus and to safely travel to and from school in violation of California’s Tom Bane Civil Rights Act. The Bane Act protects individuals from interference, by use of threats, intimidation, or coercion, with his or her peaceable exercise of their state and federal constitutional rights.

The complaint also contends that this gang activity constitutes a public nuisance pursuant to California Civil Code, sections 3479 and 3480.

To date, traditional law enforcement methods have not eliminated the immediate and continual risk to the lives and property of the people who live in, work, visit and pass through the neighborhood surrounding Fremont High School.

This action builds on Brown’s commitment to cracking down on violent street gangs. In May, Brown announced the arrests of 15 members of the Merced Gangster Crips on charges of conspiracy, drug-trafficking, and weapons sales. Brown also filed 347 felony charges with San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis against dozens of members and associates of a San Diego street gang for stealing more than $500,000 from the Navy Federal Credit Union, using forged checks and an Indian Casino cash machine.

East Palo Alto -- Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that agents from the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement today arrested a Mexican national, Adan Alfonso Herrera, and seized 70 pounds of heroin from his Lincoln Towncar on Sacramento Street in East Palo Alto.

"The suspect stashed at least 70 pounds of heroin in a secret compartment of his car,' Brown said. 'With a street value of $7 million, this is the largest heroin seizure ever made in San Mateo County.'

Herrera, 27, is a native of Mexico and a known associate of the Sac Street Gang, a violent East Palo Alto street gang with ties to Mexican drug-trafficking organizations. Herrera has prior arrests for domestic abuse, kidnapping and providing false information to a police officer.

As part of the investigation, agents served a search warrant on Herrera's residence and vehicle, located at 559 Sacramento Street in East Palo Alto. Agents discovered a small amount of heroin in the house.

Subsequently, agents found approximately 70 pounds of heroin stashed in a secret compartment in the dashboard of the Herrera’s Lincoln Towncar. The Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement determined the street value of the heroin is in excess of $7 million.

Herrera was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Jail for possession of heroin for sale and for possession of a hidden compartment. Bail was set at $5 million.

The Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement is the oldest narcotic enforcement bureau in the United States.

Questions regarding this investigation can be directed to Special Agent in Charge Bob Cooke at (408) 452-7360.

Los Angeles -- Fighting to protect the rights of students who have been “indiscriminately terrorized” by gang violence, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo today announced that they have filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction that creates a 1.4 square-mile gang-free zone around Fremont High School in Los Angeles.

This injunction would be the first-of-its-kind and would impose a daytime curfew on members of four violent street gangs (the Swan Bloods, Florencia 13, the Main Street Crips, and the 7-Trey Hustlers/Gangster Crips) to prevent them from being on the streets while students walk to and from school, from assembling with other gang members, and from harassing and intimidating law-abiding citizens.

“These brutally violent street gangs have indiscriminately terrorized students who simply wanted to travel to and from school,” Brown said. “This first-of-its-kind injunction would create a gang-free zone around Fremont High School that shields students from violence, intimidation and drug trafficking.”

A complaint seeking this injunction was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday, June 12. The injunction would create the “Fremont Free Passage Safety Zone” to prevent gang activity in the 1.4 square-mile neighborhood surrounding Fremont High School in Los Angeles.

This zone will be bound by Florence Avenue to the north, Central Avenue to the east, Manchester Avenue to the south and the 110 Freeway to the west and extends 100 yards beyond each of these boundaries.

Within the zone, police will enforce a strict curfew preventing gang members from being on the streets while students are walking to and from school, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Also, to protect all residents in the Fremont High School neighborhood, gang members must obey a night time curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. The injunction also prevents gang members from:

• Standing, sitting, walking, driving, gathering or appearing anywhere in public view, in a public place or in any place accessible to the public, with any other known gang member in the zone;

• Confronting, intimidating, annoying, harassing, threatening, challenging, provoking, assaulting, or battering any person who lives in, works in, visits or passes through the zone;

• Possessing any firearm, ammunition or weapon, whether or not concealed, in a public place or in any place accessible to the public within the zone;

• Selling, transporting, possessing or using, any controlled substance, drug or drug-related paraphernalia within the zone;

• Acting as a lookout by whistling, yelling, or signaling to warn another person engaged in unlawful or nuisance activity of the approach of law enforcement officers within the zone;

• Obstructing, impeding or blocking the free passage of any person or vehicle on any street, walkway, sidewalk, driveway, alley or parking lot within the zone;

• Drinking or possessing an open container of an alcoholic beverage in public within the safety zone;

• Damaging, defacing, marking, painting or otherwise applying graffiti to any public or private property or possessing any item to carry out such acts within the zone;

• Loitering in public for the purpose of tagging graffiti, drug-related activity or any other unlawful or nuisance activity within the zone; and

• Being present in or on the property of another person that is not open to the general public without the owner’s consent within the zone.

This injunction marks the culmination of a nine-month investigation into the gang activity of the Swan Bloods, Florencia 13, the Main Street Crips, and the 7-Trey Hustlers/Gangster Crips around Fremont High School. The 77th Division of the Los Angeles Police Department gathered and provided the evidence necessary to take action.

The investigation found that gang members frequently confronted, threatened, intimidated, assaulted, and robbed Fremont High School students traveling to and from school. These gangs also vandalized property, trespassed, loitered and sold and used drugs on sidewalks and streets near the school. For example:

• In April 2009, a young male was shot by a young female in broad daylight right next to Fremont High School on 79th Street and Avalon Boulevard.

• In March 2009, Swan Blood gang members attacked a young woman from behind in broad daylight and stole her necklace at a laundromat adjacent to Fremont High School on 78th Street and San Pedro Street.

• In February 2009, a Main Street Crip gang member armed with a handgun took a family hostage seven blocks from Fremont High School on 84th Street between Main Street and Wall Street after running from an LAPD officer.

• In November 2008, three Swan Blood gang members approached a 16-year-old student from behind, knocked him to the ground, punched and kicked him in the head and face, knocked him unconscious, and took his property. The crime occurred about four blocks from Fremont High School on McKinley Avenue at 80th Street.

• In October 2008, a 7-Trey Hustlers/Gangster Crips gang member shot into crowd of rival Swan Blood gang members with an assault rifle about one block from Fremont High School at 76th Street and San Pedro Street, killing an eight-year-old girl.

• In 2008, Florencia 13 gang members surrounded a Fremont High School student, asked him where he was from, yelled out, “This is Florencia!” proceeded to punch and kick him, and stole his money and electronics. The crime occurred less than one block from Fremont High School at 79th Street and Avalon Boulevard.

• In October 2007, a Florencia 13 gang member tried to stab a 15-year-old student walking home with a screw driver. Five to six gang members then punched and kicked the student, causing an eye abrasion, swelling to both sides of his face, bloody lips, a bump on his head and vomiting.

• In June 2007, a Swan Blood gang member murdered two young men in an alley about six blocks from Fremont High School, near 84th Street and San Pedro Street.

Many of the crimes around Fremont High School go unreported because victims and witnesses face the threat of retaliation and violence if they talk to police.

The complaint filed contends that this gang activity infringes on the constitutional right of students to obtain a public education on a safe, secure, and peaceful campus and to safely travel to and from school in violation of California’s Tom Bane Civil Rights Act. The Bane Act protects individuals from interference -- by use of threats, intimidation, or coercion -- with his or her peaceable exercise of their state and federal constitutional rights.

The complaint also contends that this gang activity constitutes a public nuisance pursuant to California Civil Code, sections 3479 and 3480.

To date, traditional law enforcement methods have not eliminated the immediate and continual risk to the lives and property of the people who live in, work, visit and pass through the neighborhood surrounding Fremont High School.

“Too often, street gangs thrive in and around our public schools. We intend to use the powers of the Bane Act to create meaningful safe passages to and from Fremont High School so that the students of that school can study and learn in peace, free from the menace of criminal street gangs,” Delgadillo said. “That is why I am proud to partner with the Attorney General and his office on this historic and creative effort to break the grips of gangs around our public schools.”

This action builds on Brown’s commitment to cracking down on violent street gangs. Last month, Brown announced the arrests of 15 members of the Merced Gangster Crips on charges of conspiracy, drug-trafficking, and weapons sales. Brown also filed 347 felony charges with San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis against dozens of members and associates of a San Diego street gang for stealing more than $500,000 from the Navy Federal Credit Union, using forged checks and an Indian Casino cash machine.

The complaint for injunctive relief, filed June 12, 2009 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, is attached.

Merced-- Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that agents from the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement yesterday arrested 15 members of the “notorious and violent” Merced Gangster Crips on charges of conspiracy, drug-trafficking, and weapons sales.

“For too long, the notorious and violent Merced Gangster Crips have terrorized Merced with their extreme violence, street drugs and powerful weaponry,” Brown said. “A member of this gang brutally killed Merced police officer Stephan Gray in a spasm of violence five years ago. Today, we strike a blow against this vicious street gang and help reclaim the streets of Merced.”

In January, Brown’s office initiated a multi-agency investigation into the gang’s criminal activity. Posing as a drug dealer, an undercover officer with the San Pablo Police Department was able to gain the confidence of the gang members and was able to obtain nearly a pound of rock cocaine, over 400 ecstasy pills, half a pound of marijuana and three handguns.

The five-month investigation concluded with the Merced County grand jury returning a 31-count indictment against 15 members of the Merced Gangster Crips that charged conspiracy, sale of controlled substances -- primarily rock cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana -- weapons sales, and criminal street gang enhancements.

During the investigation, agents seized 11 1/2 ounces of rock cocaine, seven ounces of marijuana, 448 ecstasy pills, and six loaded handguns.

Today, agents arrested;
• Randy Tyler, 23, of Merced, a suspected leader of the gang,
• Frederick Mays, 21, of Merced also a suspected leader of the gang,
• Lamont Lavell Andres, 35, of Merced;
• Michael Buddy Barret, Jr., 31, of Atwater;
• Eric Devon Beavers, 23, of Merced;
• Antoine Lee Briggs, 27, of Merced;
• Jaray Julius Jaso, 30, of Merced;
• Sudi Dumaka Johnson, 23, of Modesto;
• Jose Ascencio Magana, 24, of Merced
• Patrick McMurray, 22, of Merced
• Lutricia Marie Moore, 23, of Atwater
• Damien Ricardo Perry, 26, of Merced
• Denicio Taylor Ramos, 22, of Merced
• Mckinley Jabree Sims III, 32, of Merced
• Lester Archie Turner, 24, of Merced; and
• Alejandro Joseph Zavala, 28, of Turlock.

In April 2004, Merced Gangster Crips gang member Cuitliachuac (Toa) Rivera killed Merced Police Officer Stephan Gray during a routine traffic stop. Rivera was later convicted of the murder and received a death sentence.

“Having prosecuted the MGC gangster who murdered Merced Police Officer Stephan Gray, I know how dangerous this street gang can be. No one, not even members of law enforcement, is immune. This joint investigation has removed some very ruthless individuals from our streets,' said Merced County District Attorney Larry Morse.

Agencies involved in today’s arrests include: the Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement Gang Suppression Enforcement Team, the Merced Police Department, Merced Multi-Agency Gang Task Force, Merced Multi-Agency Narcotics Task Force, Madera County Narcotics Enforcement Team, Madera Gang Enforcement Team, West Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, and agents from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

A copy of the indictments is attached.

Los Angeles -- Fifteen individuals associated with the a Los Angeles street gang known to be linked to the Mexican Mafia were charged for their roles in a narcotics distribution ring operating in and around Compton, California, announced several federal and
local officials in Los Angeles including, Thomas P. O’Brien, United States Attorney in Los Angeles; Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los
Angeles; Leroy Baca, Sheriff of Los Angeles County; Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Attorney General for the State of California; and Timothy J. Landrum, Special Agent
in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration in Los Angeles.

An investigation was initiated in 2008 to address gang-related crime reported
by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in the Compton area.

The investigation focused on identifying and disrupting members of a drug trafficking network
there. According to five federal indictments, two federal informations and two criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, several associates of
the gang are charged with distribution and/or conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, a schedule II narcotic drug controlled substance. Four people are charged with being in the United States illegally following deportation after
felony convictions.

In executing the operation early this morning, agents and police from several federal, state and local agencies executed four federal arrest warrants, five state
arrest warrants and six search warrants that resulted in the seizure of narcotics, weapons and explosives. Six individuals charged in the federal cases were already
in custody. In addition, approximately 20 parole searches and 10 probation searches were carried out which resulted in several additional arrests (not listed).

Those charged in the federal cases include:
-Oscar Ceballos, 31, of Los Angeles, (distribution of methamphetamine and
conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine).
-Noe Chairez, 28, of Los Angeles (distribution of methamphetamine).
-Denisio Delgado, 33, of Los Angeles (distribution of methamphetamine).
-Daniel Alberto Gonzalez, 30, of Los Angeles (distribution of methamphetamine).
-Jorge Torres, 20, of Los Angeles (distribution of methamphetamine).
-David Zavala, 22, of Los Angeles (distribution of methamphetamine and conspiracy
to distribute methamphetamine).
-Victor Mendoza, 36, residing in U.S. illegally (re-entering the U.S. after two
deportations, including for felony).
-Adolfo Mendoza, 34, residing in the U.S. illegally (re-entering the U.S. after two
deportations, including for felony).
-Victor Zermino, 34, residing in the U.S. illegally (re-entering the U.S. after two
deportations, including for felony)
Cesar Guevara-Ponce, 26, residing in the U.S. illegally (re-entering the U.S. after
two deportations, including for felony).

Those charged by the state of California in the methamphetamine distribution operation include:
-Ernesto Alonso Martinez, 39, of Los Angeles.
-Gerardo Chavira, 21, of Los Angeles.
-Brian Doyle, 42, of Los Angeles.
-Benjamin Rodriguez, 33, of Los Angeles.
-Francisco Rodriguez, 34, of Los Angeles.

The federal defendants arrested this morning will have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles today.

“It is vital for law enforcement at all levels to collectively address drug distribution networks which fuel the violence wreaking havoc in Los Angeles communities, and sustain the lifeblood of criminal enterprises like the Mexican Mafia,” said Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles.

“By shutting down a major source of drugs and weapons, these
arrests will deal another hammer blow to the persistent violence that terrorizes Compton,” Attorney General Edmund G. Brown said.

“Today's successful operation is an example of how law
enforcement has joined forces at all levels to free our communities from the violence brought into our neighborhoods by these criminal drug organizations,' said Timothy J. Landrum, DEA Special Agent in Charge.

“ICE is committed to using every tool at its disposal to combatgang-related crime and violence here in the Southland,” said Robert Schoch, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Los Angeles. “Our immigration and customs authorities are proving to be powerful weapons in this effort and we
will continue working closely our law enforcement partners to attack and dismantle the gangs that have terrorized our communities.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI, the State of California’s Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as several agencies working with the FBI’s
Safe Streets Task Force that provided considerable assistance during the investigation and during today’s operation, including U.S. Immigration Customs
Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Department of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), U.S. Bureau of Prisons, L.A. IMPACT, U.S. Department of Probation, the California
Department of Corrections and the Department of Child and Family Services of Los Angeles County.

The federal defendants listed above will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. The District Attorney in Los Angeles will prosecute
individuals charged in the state warrants.
The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force in Los Angeles is one of dozens of such task forces throughout the United States, funded for the purpose of assisting local police in
identifying and addressing violent crime in America.

RICHMOND—California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus today announced the arrests this morning of 18 gang members of the dangerous Deep Central criminal street gang that has been “wantonly terrorizing” Richmond for the last five years.

“This notorious street gang has been wantonly terrorizing the neighborhoods of Richmond with robberies, prostitution, drug trafficking and even murders,” said Attorney General Brown. “Just last year, more than 20 homicides in the city resulted from the gang war between Deep Central and the Project Trojans.”

In response to the 47 homicides in Richmond last year—the highest per-capita murder rate in California—Attorney General Brown authorized the gang investigation that resulted in today’s major gang takedown. Formed in 2003, the Deep Central gang, also known as Deep C, includes an estimated 100 members who claim Richmond as their territory. The gang is one of the largest and most violent criminal street gangs in Richmond, engaging in drug trafficking, robbery, assault and prostitution. Residential neighborhoods are often ground zero for some of the gang’s most violent activity.

At approximately 7 a.m. this morning, more than 200 state, local and federal law enforcement personnel served 40 search warrants and 43 arrest warrants in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Marin County, and Sacramento County. In addition to the arrests, agents seized substantial quantities of cocaine and marijuana, with an estimated street value of $100,000. Agents also seized 8 firearms, including a fully automatic weapon, a ballistic vest and more than $17,000 in cash. One of the gang associates arrested in today’s operation, Kaisha Hill, was a City of Richmond Parks and Recreation juvenile group counselor who had a stash that included a kilo of cocaine and 3 guns, one of which was a Mac-11 automatic weapon.

The Attorney General’s investigation began after two of the gang’s leaders, Todd Gillard and Rohnell Robinson, attempted to kill a rival gang member in a drive-by shooting at Hilltop Mall in Richmond. Gillard and Robinson instead shot the rival’s 17 year-old girlfriend in the neck, leaving her a quadriplegic. At a grand jury trial, Gillard and Robinson were both indicted for attempted murder and are in custody, awaiting trial. Prior to his arrest, Gillard was identified as the “shooter” in at least two other drive-by shootings with rival gang members in residential neighborhoods in Richmond.

Narcotics agents from the Attorney General’s Office led today’s operation in conjunction with the Richmond Police Department. During the course of the investigation, arrests were made for homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft, shooting at a vehicle, possession for sale of marijuana, possession for sale and transportation of cocaine, possession of an assault weapon, and prostitution.

Other law enforcement agencies participating in today’s operation include the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigations, West Contra Costa County Narcotic Enforcement Team, Central Contra Costa County Narcotic Enforcement Team, Napa Special Investigations Bureau, Marin County Narcotic Task Force, Elk Grove Police Department, and Rancho Cordova Police Department.

The Attorney General’s Office assists local law enforcement when severe gang problems cross jurisdictional boundaries. State agents have recently shut down a Norteño street gang and a violent Cambodian street gang in Stockton, a Sureño gang in Atwater and the Varrio Central Poros, a brutal criminal street gang that terrorized the City of Porterville for years. Brown’s special agents have also participated in recent crime crackdowns in East Palo Alto, Oakland, and Compton

YUBA CITY— California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced today that officers from the Attorney General’s Office, Yuba County Sheriff’s Department and Sutter County Gang Task Force conducted “Operation Showdown” and arrested 25 people for gang activity, drug trafficking and illegal gun sales.

“Tragically, gang activity is deeply embedded in many communities and is spreading throughout rural California,” said Attorney General Brown. “Despite the state’s budget crisis, I intend to do everything I can to help local police and sheriffs curb the escalating gang violence plaguing our state.”

During Operation Showdown, undercover officers infiltrated drug-trafficking groups involved in the distribution of drugs and the illegal sale and transfer of firearms. During a three-month period, undercover officers made more than 50 drug buys and 5 gun buys from 42 people, including 8 gang members, 13 gang associates and 5 parolees. The undercover officers purchased more than 300 grams of methamphetamine and were also able to purchase heroin, marijuana and 8 guns, including 2 assault weapons. Three of the guns purchased in the operation were stolen in a burglary in Yuba County.

Operation Showdown led to the arrest of 25 suspects, including 6 gang members and 8 gang associates. Agents seized more than 3,500 grams (almost 6 pounds) of methamphetamine, 18,000 grams (42 pounds) of marijuana, 21 guns, heroin and more than $101,000 in cash. One of the search warrants yielded 186 gigantic marijuana plants capable of producing up to 8 pounds of marijuana buds per plant.

The Attorney General’s Office assists local law enforcement when severe gang problems cross jurisdictional boundaries. State narcotics agents have recently shut down a Norteño street gang and a violent Cambodian street gang in Stockton, a Sureño gang in Atwater and the Varrio Central Poros, a brutal criminal street gang that terrorized the City of Porterville for years. Brown’s special agents have also participated in recent crime crackdowns in East Palo Alto, Oakland, and Compton.