Feds arrest members of MS-13 gang in LA area

By THOMAS WATKINS
Associated Press Writer
Published: Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2009 - 9:19 am

LOS ANGELES -- Federal and local authorities in the Los Angeles area have arrested the executive director of a high-profile anti-gang nonprofit organization as part of an action against the notorious Mara Salvatrucha street gang.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller says Alex Sanchez, who heads Homies Unidos, was arrested at his home in Bellflower early Wednesday on federal racketeering charges. In all, about eight people have been arrested.

The indictment names 24 members of Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, and alleges crimes including several murders, conspiracies to commit murder and narcotics offenses. Several of those named were already in custody.

Homies Unidos works to rescue kids from gangs in Los Angeles and Sanchez's native El Salvador. A message left at the organization's offices was not immediately returned.

http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/1973313.html