Feds Arrest 12 in LA Gang Takedown
Federal and local authorities arrested twelve alleged members of the 18th Street gang in Los Angeles on charges including murder and drug trafficking. The coordinated operation, which authorities discussed in a news conference, is a major crackdown on organized crime in the MacArthur Park area.
The federal indictment accuses the 18th Street gang of using tents in MacArthur Park to blend in with homeless encampments, creating a cover for an open-air drug market. This tactic allowed them to control a network of dealers selling fentanyl and methamphetamine while avoiding law enforcement detection. The investigation, dubbed "Operation Dead Horse," has been ongoing since January 2023. Among those arrested is Keiko Marie Gonzalez, 59, also known as "Moms" and "La Señora." Prosecutors allege she was the second-in-command and de facto street boss, taking orders from her incarcerated husband, a high-ranking Mexican Mafia member. Gonzalez is specifically accused of ordering the July 2022 murder of a drug trafficker who failed to pay the gang's "taxes." The operation has so far resulted in the seizure of over 175 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl, approximately $80,000 in cash, and multiple firearms. Seven federal grand jury indictments have been issued, with charges including racketeering, murder, extortion, and drug trafficking. The 18th Street gang, with tens of thousands of members across the U.S. and Central America, has a long history in the neighborhoods around MacArthur Park. The gang originally formed in the 1960s and was one of the first multi-ethnic gangs in Los Angeles. This specific area has long been plagued by high levels of drug use and trafficking, leading to increased law enforcement focus over the years. This recent crackdown is not the first major federal operation against this specific clique of the 18th Street gang. A 1999 indictment led to the conviction of 21 members on racketeering and murder charges after a key member became a federal informant. The economic impact of gang violence on Los Angeles is significant, affecting property values and deterring investment in communities like MacArthur Park. The area, one of the most densely populated in the city, already struggles with poverty, with nearly one-third of its residents living below the poverty line. While a dozen members have been arrested, authorities are still searching for six fugitives, including one believed to be in Mexico and another in Guatemala. Los Angeles city officials have recently invested $27 million in programs aimed at addressing the root causes of issues in the park, including drug addiction and homelessness.
