San Diego Street Gang Members Charged With Racketeering Conspiracy, Firearms Offenses,...

San Diego Street Gang Members Charged With Racketeering Conspiracy, Firearms
Offenses, and Drug-Trafficking Violations

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A federal grand jury in San
Diego has handed up 14 indictments and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the
Southern District of California has filed two criminal complaints charging a
total of 36 defendants with a federal racketeering conspiracy, firearm
offenses and drug trafficking violations, U.S. Attorney Karen P. Hewitt
announced today.

The charges stem from a year-long investigation entitled "Operation Keys to
the City" conducted by the multi-agency San Diego Violent Crimes Task
Force-Gang Group, which targeted the criminal activities of the Mexican Mafia
(or "La Eme"), Hispanic street gangs with ties to the Mexican Mafia and the
Mexico-based Arellano-Felix drug trafficking organization.

The complaint charges 13 individuals with participating in a Racketeering
Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) conspiracy. As set forth in the
complaint, the defendants engaged in multiple racketeering acts in furtherance
of the Mexican Mafia criminal enterprise, including among other things,
attempted murder, kidnapping, assault, extortion, conspiracy to distribute
controlled substances and the distribution of controlled substances.

The RICO conspiracy complaint also sets forth how the Mexican Mafia criminal
organization exerted control over illegal activities within the California
prison system and on the streets of Southern California through a hierarchical
structure led by Mexican Mafia members. According to the complaint, members
delegate authority to Mexican Mafia associates to control specific areas both
inside prisons and on the streets. This delegation of authority is referred to
as giving "the keys" to the individual. In the prisons, Mexican Mafia members
and associates control criminal activities in specific prison yards or an
entire prison through acts of violence and threats.

Likewise, the Mexican Mafia seeks to control criminal activity in San Diego
neighborhoods and in communities throughout California through similar means.
For example, according to the complaint, on one such occasion a Mexican Mafia
member and his associates became involved in the collection of an outstanding
drug debt for two Mexican nationals. The two Mexican nationals specifically
sought the assistance of the Mexican Mafia. The group invaded the victim's
home armed with handguns and threatened to shoot the victim if payment was not
forthcoming. The group then took four vehicles, approximately $2,000 in cash,
and other personal items from the victim and victim's family. Finally, the
group told the victim that if law enforcement were notified, the group would
kill the victim and the victim's family.

As alleged in the complaint, such transnational criminal activity was only
part of an overall effort by Mexican Mafia members and associates to forge
greater ties to Mexican organized crime groups such as the Arellano-Felix
organization. The Mexican Mafia and the Arellano-Felix organization work
together in international drug-trafficking operations as well as the
commission of acts of violence, such as kidnapping and attempted murder, both
in San Diego and Mexico.

The 14 indictments charge an additional 19 defendants with various
drug-trafficking and firearms offenses. The drug-trafficking violations
include conspiracies to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, the
distribution of methamphetamine and heroin, and the possession of
methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The gun-related charges include
firearms trafficking, providing a firearm to a known felon, the possession of
a firearm with an obliterated serial number and felon in possession of a
firearm.

In a separate but related indictment, four additional individuals were charged
on Dec. 18, 2008, with a separate RICO conspiracy. The indictment alleges that
the members of the enterprise and their associates promoted a climate of fear
through violence and threats of violence to protect their drug-trafficking
operation.

Indictments and complaints are not evidence that the defendants committed the
crimes charged. The defendants are presumed innocent until the Government
meets its burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

U.S. Attorney Hewitt said, "The illegal activities of the Mexican Mafia extend
from our prisons to our neighborhoods and across the international border to
Mexico. It is an organization predicated upon violence and intimidation and
fueled by drug-trafficking proceeds and extortion. These indictments mark a
significant step toward attacking these criminal organizations and diminishing
their influence in our community."

FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter commented, "Today's arrests removed
many of San Diego's most dangerous criminals from our streets. Though we were
able to disrupt the activities of this violent organization, our work is not
done. In order to keep our community safe, the FBI and our law enforcement
partners remain committed to pursuing these gangs that engage in dangerous and
illegal activities."

U.S. Attorney Hewitt praised the coordinated effort of the several law
enforcement groups led by the Violent Crimes Task Force-Gang Group and the
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) for the coordinated team
effort culminating in the charges filed in these cases. The OCDETF program was
created to consolidate and utilize all law enforcement resources in this
country's battle against major drug trafficking.

The cases are being investigated by the FBI, the San Diego Police Department,
the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, the National City Police
Department, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, the U.S. Bureau
of Prisons, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the
San Diego County Probation Department and United States Immigration and
Customs Enforcement.

The cases are being prosecuted in San Diego federal court by Assistant U.S.
Attorneys Michael J. Crowley, John N. Parmley, and Peter Mazza.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice

AUSA John Parmley of the U.S. Department of Justice, +1-619-557-6198