Los Angeles, California – Thirteen individuals linked to the Mexican Mafia prison gang face charges by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for their involvement in a drug smuggling operation and a violent assault within the Los Angeles County jail system. Members accused of orchestrating the crimes are believed to have ties to high-ranking associates of the Mexican Mafia operating outside of the prison under the direction of a incarcerated gang member.
The investigation, which began in February 2022, was a joint effort by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau and the FBI’s San Gabriel Valley Safe Streets Task Force. It uncovered reports of narcotics being smuggled into the Los Angeles County Jail, as well as the organized attack on an inmate within the facility. The alleged coordination of these activities stemmed from orders relayed by a Mexican Mafia “facilitator” to gang associates inside the jail, referred to as “Sureños” or “soldiers,” to carry out the assault on a non-member who falsely claimed association with the Mexican Mafia.
Authorities found that the drug smuggling and violent incidents were overseen by Mexican Mafia leaders within the jail, known as “shotcallers,” who were responsible for moving illicit substances throughout the facility for distribution among inmates. The investigation further revealed that a significant amount of drugs, including heroin, was seized during the operation, along with a substantial sum of cash and weapons from the home of a suspected facilitator linked to the criminal organization.
Several individuals named in the case have been taken into custody, while others are already incarcerated on unrelated charges. Law enforcement agencies continue to search for two suspects considered fugitives in the case. The investigation is ongoing, with efforts to dismantle the criminal activities attributed to the Mexican Mafia and ensure the safety and security of the Los Angeles County Jail system.
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau, in collaboration with the FBI’s San Gabriel Valley Safe Streets Task Force, are at the forefront of combating organized crime and gang-related activities within the region. These agencies work together to investigate and prosecute cases involving criminal enterprises like the Mexican Mafia, with the ultimate goal of maintaining public safety and preventing further violence and illegal operations within the county.
The prosecution of this case is led by Deputy-In-Charge Lou Avila and Deputy District Attorney Abbigail Briones from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Prison Crimes Unit, underscoring the commitment of law enforcement to hold individuals accountable for their involvement in criminal activities that threaten the well-being of the community. As the investigation unfolds and more suspects are brought to justice, efforts to disrupt the operations of the Mexican Mafia and dismantle its influence within the Los Angeles County Jail remain a top priority for authorities.