SAN DIEGO, May 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced the culmination of a six-month,
multi-agency undercover operation yesterday, resulting in the arrest of 21
suspects and the recovery of 44 firearms from local gang members.
The investigation, dubbed Operation Stampede began in December 2008, and
involved agents and officers from ATF, the San Diego Police Department,
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Border Patrol, Naval
Criminal Investigative Service, San Diego County Probation Office, and the San
Diego District Attorney's Office. The investigation targeted violent San
Diego gang members that engaged in homicides, robberies, firearms trafficking
and assaults.
"We are pleased with the outcome of this investigation; today's arrests of
these violent gang members exemplify the success of ATF's partnerships with
local, state and federal law enforcement agencies," said John A. Torres,
special agent in charge, ATF, Los Angeles Field Division. "Even though the
economy may be tough, the public can rest assured that ATF will always have
the resources to purchase firearms from illegal traffickers and put violent
offenders behind bars," added Torres.
Yesterday's early morning operation began with teams serving five separate
search warrants and 13 arrest warrants. The searches turned up 14 firearms,
ammunition and a home used to grow marijuana.
Throughout the investigation ATF purchased 30 firearms including high-caliber
weapons and sawed-off shotguns. Some of these firearms were sold to persons
purporting to traffic them to Mexico. Three suspects have been charged
federally with illegally selling and possessing firearms. Three homicide
cases have also been solved as a result of this operation, with at least one
other still being investigated. Two suspects of the investigation were also
charged with arson related crimes.
More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.
Contact: Special Agent Michael Hoffman, PIO
Office: (818) 265-2507
Cell: (213) 925-4547
michael.hoffman@atf.gov
www.atf.gov
SOURCE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Special Agent Michael Hoffman, PIO, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives, +1-818-265-2507, Cell: +1-213-925-4547, michael.hoffman@atf.gov
