Feds Target MacArthur Park Drug Market
Federal authorities are targeting the 18th Street gang for allegedly operating an open-air drug market in LA's MacArthur Park. The operation involves the LAPD's Drug Recognition Expert task force, which has been actively stopping individuals suspected of fentanyl use in the area.
The recent federal operation resulted in the arrest of 12 alleged members and associates of the 18th Street gang. The charges are extensive, including racketeering conspiracy, murder, extortion, and drug trafficking. This crackdown is part of a larger effort to dismantle the gang's control over the park, which authorities say was used as an open-air marketplace for fentanyl and methamphetamine. A seven-count federal grand jury indictment names seven individuals, including 59-year-old Keiko Marie Gonzalez, also known as "La Señora." Prosecutors allege Gonzalez ordered the 2022 murder of a drug dealer who failed to pay the gang's "taxes." The 18th Street gang is affiliated with the Mexican Mafia, with an unindicted co-conspirator who is an inmate in a California state prison alleged to have ultimate control. During the investigation, law enforcement seized over 175 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl. On the day of the arrests, authorities also confiscated approximately $80,000 in cash, 10 pounds of fentanyl, five pounds of methamphetamine, and six firearms. The gang allegedly used tents, blending in with homeless encampments, to conceal their drug trafficking activities. MacArthur Park, once a popular city destination, has for decades been a hub for criminal activity. The area became known for rampant drug dealing and gang violence, particularly since the 1980s. This led to numerous revitalization efforts over the years by the LAPD and community groups to combat crime and improve public safety. The gang's alleged control extended beyond drug sales to the extortion of street vendors operating near the park. A previous federal case highlighted this, where a street vendor's refusal to pay a $50 "rent" fee led to a shooting that resulted in the death of a 23-day-old infant in 2007. If convicted on the current charges, the defendants face severe penalties. Two individuals face a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, while Keiko Gonzalez could receive a maximum sentence of life. Others face potential sentences ranging from 20 to 40 years in federal prison. Authorities are still searching for six fugitives connected to the case.
