Members of Violent Mexican Mafia Arrested in Undercover Sting

KTLA News

April 22, 2009

LOS ANGELES -- Two dozen members of the notorious Mexican Mafia were arrested in a series of early-morning raids throughout the San Fernando Valley.

A combined FBI, LAPD, DEA and ICE task force served search and arrest warrants targeting numerous locations and seized weapons, drugs and money.

"The Mexican Mafia is a significant prison gang that has tentacles outside of prison. That allows them to conduct criminal activity on the streets in Los Angeles and the prison system in California," according to FBI Special Agent in Charge, Daniel McMullen.

Officials confiscated cash, drugs and guns at various locations.

Experts say the intricate operation was designed to smuggle and distribute methamphetamine in the Los Angeles area.

The year long operation included wiretaps and undercover stings.

'It's the first time in a number of years that the FBI has worked with the LAPD targeting gangs in the San Fernando Valley but, it won't be the last."

Experts say the Mexican Mafia is considered the worst of the worst and is responsible for some of the most violent crime in the Southern California area.

"Without a doubt when we take these folks off the street there is a positive impact on the community. There are less persons involved in the drug trade. The violence is associated with that so it's a tremendous impact for the community, a tremendous positive impact."

Several individuals charged in the complaint were already in custody and approximately four individuals were arrested on related and unrelated state charges.

Those charged in the federal complaint include:

Karen Arizpe, 46, of Reseda
Juan Ceja Barrera, 44, of Reseda
Oscar Carbajal, 37, of Pacoima
Lisa Chavez, 28, of Northridge
Elmerante De La Cruz, 40, Mission Hills
Juan Carlos Deloera, 32, Northridge
Jesus Roberto Diaz Glindo, 36, of Pacoima
Senobio Gonzalez, 34, of Lake View Terrace
Miguel AngelGuzman Gutierrez, 26, of Sun Valley
Humberto Jimenez, 36, of Mission Hills
Ileana Patricia Luna, 31, of Pacoima
Dagoberto Ochoa, 33, of San Fernando
Candida Guerrero Padilla, 37, of Pacoima
Franciso Rodriguez, 37, of Pacoima
Richard Silva, 54, of Sylmar
Shaeda Wall, 34, of Van Nuys
Antonio Garcia, 37, incarcerated in Bureau of Prisons
Jaime Garcia, 37, incarcerated at L.A. County Jail
Monique Lopez, 32, incarcerated in CA state prison
Salvador Lopez, 29, incarcerated in Ventura County jail
Michael Martinez, 45, incarcerated in L.A. County jail
Carlos Portillo, 28, incarcerated in CA State prison
RoRomero Topiltzin, 34, incarcerated in L.A. County jail
Jose Serrano, 38, incarcerated in Bureau of Prisons

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