{"id":12932,"date":"2015-06-18T17:50:53","date_gmt":"2015-06-19T00:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=12932"},"modified":"2015-06-18T18:51:08","modified_gmt":"2015-06-19T01:51:08","slug":"mexican-mafia-truce-formed-alliance-among-three-rival-gangs-to-control-criminal-activity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=12932","title":{"rendered":"Mexican Mafia “Truce” Formed Alliance Among Three Rival Gangs to Control Criminal Activity (Video)"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"U.S.<\/a>
U.S. Department of Justice<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Federal, state and local authorities today arrested 15 defendants named in a federal racketeering indictment that describes three criminal streets in Northeast Los Angeles that formed an alliance under a truce ordered by the Mexican Mafia, officials said.<\/p>\n

The alliance, described by one member as “The United Nations,” was formed to control criminal activity in neighborhoods where the gangs operated, officials said.<\/p>\n

A federal 27-count RICO indictment was returned Wednesday and this is what it alleges:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mexican Mafia member Arnold Gonzales<\/strong> created a criminal enterprise by unifying three gangs that had traditionally been rivals.<\/p>\n

The \u201cpeace treaty\u201d imposed by Arnold Gonzales brought together the Frogtown, Toonerville<\/strong> and Rascals<\/strong> gangs, which then worked \u201cin concert to control the narcotics trafficking and other illicit activities committed in their territories,\u201d which run along the Los Angeles River from Elysian Park nearly to Burbank.<\/p>\n

Exploiting a power vacuum created by previous federal RICO cases targeting Northeast Los Angeles gangs and the Mexican Mafia members who controlled them, Arnold Gonzales<\/strong> allegedly assumed control of the three street gangs in the fall of 2010.<\/p>\n

Because he was incarcerated in Pelican Bay State Prison after being convicted of murder, Arnold Gonzales anointed another Frogtown member \u2013 Jorge Grey<\/strong>, also known as \u201cBouncer\u201d \u2013 to be his emissary on the streets, according to the indictment.<\/p>\n

Acting as the so-called shot-caller, Grey convened a meeting of representatives of Northeast Los Angeles gangs in September 2010.<\/p>\n

At this meeting, Grey informed the gang\u00a0representatives that he was Arnold Gonzales\u2019s \u201cmouthpiece\u201d and that he had orders to broker a truce among the rival gangs of Frogtown, Toonerville, and the Rascals so that they could work together to control illegal activities in the area for Arnold Gonzales.<\/p>\n

Nearly two years after its formation, the criminal organization had achieved its goal of unifying the three longstanding rival gangs into a single criminal enterprise.<\/p>\n

Less than two years after Arnold Gonzales imposed the truce on the gangs, one of the Toonerville shot-callers, Manuel Vallejo<\/strong>, was talking about the \u201cUnited Nations,\u201d \u201cNew World Order\u201d and \u201cUnited Neighborhoods,\u201d which he said was the \u201cgame plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just a few months ago, Vallejo was boasting about the execution of that \u201cgame plan,\u201d noting that he was part of something that had ended more than 50 years of fighting between Frogtown, Toonerville and the Rascals.<\/p>\n

As part of the scheme, several participants in the enterprise allegedly deposited money into Arnold Gonzales\u2019s prison account, with one individual depositing over $133,000 on her own, according to officials.<\/p>\n

In addition to the RICO charge in the indictment, officials said various defendants are charged with narcotics and weapons offenses, including, in one instance, the possession of a machine gun.<\/p>\n

List of Defendants<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cFor the past two decades, federal authorities have been fighting the influence of the Mexican Mafia both inside prison facilities and on the streets of Southern California,\u201d said Assistant U.S.Attorney Robert Dugdale, Chief of the office\u2019s Criminal Division.<\/strong> \u201cWe sought to ensure that being a shotcaller in such a gang is a job whose only reward will be many, many years in federal custody. The indictment announced today is the latest salvo in this battle, and we will continue our crackdown on criminal organizations like the Mexican Mafia and street gangs that do its bidding as long as they threaten our communities.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The RICO indictment targeting the Arnold Gonzales Organization is the result of Operation \u201cGig \u2018em<\/strong>,\u201d which was a 2.-year investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Violent Crime Impact Team; the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Correctional Safety, Special Service Unit; the Glendale Police Department; and the Los Angeles Police Department.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Authorities arrested 14 of the defendants named in the RICO indictment. Four other defendants were already in custody, and law enforcement continues to search for three defendants, including Grey<\/p>\n

(Two other individuals named in separate one-defendant, one-count drug trafficking indictments were also arrested this morning.)<\/p>\n

ATF Special Agent in Charge Carlos A. Canino<\/strong> said, \u201cMany of these defendants are previously convicted felons. We will continue to send the message, continued engagement in gang violence and violent crime has no place in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The investigation centered on Arnold Gonzales<\/strong> taking control of the three gangs; exercising his authority through Grey and his criminal associates; and generating revenue through extortion, specifically the imposition of taxes on the gangs and others who distributed narcotics in the territory controlled by the criminal enterprise, according to authorities.<\/p>\n

Members of the racketeering conspiracy allegedly implemented the orders of Arnold Gonzales<\/strong>, imposed discipline on those who attempted to violate the orders or contest the power of the enterprise, and collected firearms that were used to enforce their authority, officials said.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0indictment details numerous transactions involving narcotics and firearms, and also contains charges related to two shootings, one allegedly perpetrated by Vallejo against a fellow Toonerville gang member whom he believed was attempting to wrest control of the enterprise, and another shooting of a neighborhood drug dealer ordered by Grey due to his failure to pay \u201ctaxes\u201d to Arnold Gonzales.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a path of lives ruined, and families devastated by the violence, extortion, and addictions that were created by this gang alliance,\u201d said Bill Kunz, Special Agent in Charge, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Correctiona<\/strong>l Safety<\/strong>. \u201cSo, those who join with the Mexican Mafia should be on notice: law enforcement is also banded together. We will track you down, and take you down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Members of the organization also implemented plans to expand operations into the greater Lancaster, California area, where they hoped to engage in drug trafficking and collect \u201ctaxes\u201d on behalf of, and for the benefit, of Arnold Gonzales, officials said.<\/p>\n

The indictment alleges that Grey and other members of the enterprise engaged in narcotics and weapons transactions at Homeboy Industries, and one defendant allegedly planned to use Homeboy Industries as an \u201calibi\u201d if he was accused of associating with other gang members in violation of a gang injunction.<\/p>\n

(Mexican Mafia Documentary)
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