Multiple Arrests of Two Dozen Federally Charged in Valley Operation Targeting Hispanic Gangs and Associates in Connection with Narcotics Distribution Ring

Two dozen individuals associated with the Mexican Mafia and other Hispanic street gangs were charged federally for their roles in a narcotics distribution ring operating in the San Fernando Valley, announced Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, and Michael Moore, Deputy Chief of LAPD’s Valley Operations Bureau.

An investigation was initiated early last year by the LAPD and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force to address gang-related crime in the San Fernando Valley. The investigation focused on identifying and disrupting drug trafficking organizations and related violence carried out by Hispanic gangs associated with the Mexican Mafia. 

According to criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, court-authorized wire interceptions, surveillance, and confidential sources were used during the investigation to purchase narcotics and weapons from the subjects in this case. The defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics, Title 21, USC, Section 846. One subject, Oscar Carbajal, is charged with being in the United States illegally following deportation. 

The criminal complaint outlines a narcotics distribution ring in which defendants played multiple roles in a coordinated methamphetamine trafficking enterprise, including sales, distribution and transportation. 

Agents from several federal agencies and officers with the LAPD executed over a dozen federal arrest warrants and twelve federal search warrants that resulted in the seizure of cash, narcotics, and weapons.  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 Angel Guzman 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
Romero Topiltzin, 34, incarcerated in L.A. County Jail
Jose Serrano, 38, incarcerated in Bureau of Prisons

Those arrested today will have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court this afternoon in downtown Los Angeles. 

This investigation was conducted by the LAPD and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, one of dozens of such task forces throughout the United States, funded for the purpose of assisting local police in identifying and addressing violent crime in America. Considerable assistance was provided during this investigation and in today’s operation by several additional agencies, including, DEA, ICE, ATF, Bureau of Prisons, the California Department of Corrections, and the Department of Child and Family Services of Los Angeles County.  The defendants listed above will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.