White supremacist gang members in San Fernando Valley face federal charges
Nearly 70 people who belong to or are associated with a white supremacist gang in the San Fernando Valley were indicted on federal charges, authorities announced Wednesday.
Nearly 70 people who belong to or are associated with a white supremacist gang in the San Fernando Valley were indicted on federal charges, authorities announced Wednesday, saying the multi-agency operation was Los Angeles’ largest ever takedown of an extremist group.
The alleged criminal organization trafficked weapons and drugs, including fentanyl, while committing fraud and financial crimes for years, according to U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada.
“By allegedly engaging in everything from drug-trafficking to firearms offenses to identity theft to COVID fraud, and through their alliance with a neo-Nazi prison gang, (they) are a destructive force,” Estrada said.The group also allegedly set up a storefront, such as a fake drug treatment center, to make false documents to get their associates off probation or parole while defrauding Medicare and insurance providers.
A total of 68 defendants are facing numerous charges, including conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices.
LAPD officers as well as FBI and DEA agents served nearly 30 arrest warrants Wednesday morning, including at a motel in Sherman Oaks.
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