LAPD Arrests 18th Street Gang Members

This series of arrests is part of a federally-led initiative dubbed "Operation Dead Horse," targeting the gang's alleged transformation of MacArthur Park into an open-air drug market. During the investigation, law enforcement seized over 175 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl, alongside approximately $80,000 in cash and multiple firearms. Among those taken into custody was Keiko Gonzalez, 59, also known as "Moms" and "La Reina," who prosecutors allege acted as the de facto street boss for the gang. The federal indictment accuses Gonzalez of overseeing the gang's criminal enterprises and ordering the July 2022 murder of a drug trafficker who failed to pay extortionate "taxes" to the gang. The 18th Street gang originated in the Rampart District of Los Angeles during the 1960s, the same area where MacArthur Park is located. It was formed by youths who were not accepted into the existing Clanton 14 gang, and it grew into one of the first multi-ethnic, multiracial gangs in the city. With an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 members across the U.S., Mexico, and Central America, 18th Street is one of the largest street gangs in Los Angeles. The deportation of members from the U.S. led to the gang's proliferation in Central American countries, where it became a dominant and violent force, sparking a fierce rivalry with MS-13. These arrests follow a recent push by city officials to address crime in the MacArthur Park area, which included increased police foot patrols and the installation of fencing to disrupt the sale of stolen goods and illegal drugs. Following these interventions, Mayor Karen Bass's office announced a 57% decrease in violent crime in the area over a five-week period earlier this year.