Federal Authorities Arrest 12 Members of Notorious 18th Street Gang in Los Angeles

Federal authorities arrested 12 members and associates of the 18th Street gang in Los Angeles as part of a major crackdown dubbed 'Operation Dead Horse.' The arrests were announced on Thursday morning, with seven federal grand jury indictments returned against some of the members. Charges include racketeering, murder for the killing of a drug trafficker, and other crimes.

The indictment alleges that Keiko Gonzalez, 59, also known as 'Moms,' 'La Señora,' or 'The Queen,' functioned as the de facto leader of the gang. Prosecutors accuse her of ordering the murder of a drug trafficker who failed to pay extortionate taxes and overseeing various criminal activities, including collecting rent, extortion, and disciplining members. Gonzalez allegedly received orders from her husband, Jorge Gonzales, a Mexican Mafia member held in a California state prison.

During the investigation, federal and local law enforcement seized more than 175 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl, around $80,000 in cash, and six firearms. The gang is accused of using MacArthur Park as an open-air marketplace for drug trafficking, operating within tents to blend in with the homeless population.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli described 18th Street as 'one of the largest and most violent gangs in the western hemisphere.' He emphasized that these indictments are a significant step towards cleaning up parks and eliminating violent organized crime from Los Angeles.

The gang also operated illegal gambling establishments known as 'casitas' and engaged in organized extortion. Two other members, George Carillo and Carlos Beltran, were charged with murder in aid of racketeering for the killing of a drug trafficker who failed to pay extortionate taxes. Six suspects remain at large; authorities believe two fled internationally: one to Mexico and another to Guatemala.

If convicted, street boss Gonzalez faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, while Carillo and Beltran face mandatory life sentences. Five of the defendants arrested were scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

The raids spanning Tuesday through Thursday brought 12 arrests along with 175 pounds of meth and fentanyl, six guns, and $80,000 in cash. The crackdown followed a years-long investigation into 18th Street, the largest gang in the city and a top purveyor of meth and fentanyl in MacArthur Park, Skid Row and beyond.

Capt. Ahmad Zarekani, head of the LAPD Gang and Narcotics Division, stated that 'LA has become a center for the transport and distribution of narcotics across the country and internationally.' The arrests are seen as a significant blow to the gang's leadership, which will take time to restructure.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jena McCabe highlighted that 18th Street is one of the most violent gangs in Los Angeles, with a far-reaching impact. By jailing key leaders, prosecutors hope to address issues in MacArthur Park and surrounding neighborhoods.