Feds target Mexican Mafia in San Diego

The Associated Press
Posted: 02/13/2009 03:53:58 PM PST

SAN DIEGO—Federal authorities in San Diego say 36 people have been charged with crimes including racketeering and extortion in an investigation targeting the prison-based Mexican Mafia gang.

The charges are outlined in 14 grand jury indictments and two criminal complaints unsealed Friday.

U.S. Attorney Karen Hewitt says the yearlong investigation targeted the Mexican Mafia, which formed decades ago in California prisons.

The FBI says 14 defendants were arrested Friday and four are at large. The other defendants were arrested previously.

The charges describe crimes in the San Diego area that range from a $5,000 methamphetamine sale to the kidnapping of a someone over a $50,000 drug debt

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