In a coordinated effort, FBI agents and Los Angeles County deputies conducted a series of raids on Tuesday, targeting 30 homes associated with the notorious South L.A. gang, Florencia 13. This gang, which has been operating in the area for approximately 70 years, gained infamy following the 2022 killing of off-duty LAPD Officer Fernando Arroyos during an armed robbery.
Following the arrests of numerous Los Angeles gang members, prosecutors unsealed indictments charging 37 individuals connected to Florencia 13. The charges include fentanyl trafficking, extortion, and three murders, including the fatal beating of a man outside a local bar within the gang’s territory.
Three Florencia 13 gang members, namely Jesse Contreras, Luis Alfredo de la Rosa Rios, and Ernesto Cisneros, had previously pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges in 2023 for their involvement in the robbery and murder of Officer Arroyos. They were subsequently sentenced to lengthy prison terms. These individuals admitted to carrying out the killing as part of Florencia 13’s criminal activities.
The recent operation resulted in the arrest of 23 members and associates of Florencia 13, who are expected to face arraignment on 11 indictments in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Additionally, authorities are actively searching for eight other individuals, some of whom are believed to be fugitives in Mexico.
During the investigation, law enforcement seized significant quantities of illicit substances, including approximately 21 pounds of methamphetamine, nine pounds of fentanyl, and 6.5 pounds of heroin. They also confiscated 25 firearms and approximately $70,000 in cash.
Florencia 13 has expanded its criminal activities over the years, absorbing smaller gangs and extending its reach in drug dealing and extortion. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized the devastating impact of street gangs on communities, stating that law enforcement will remain relentless in combating these criminal organizations.
Estrada highlighted that the indictments specifically target those who operate the gang from outside prison. He presented evidence, including a security video, showing a deadly attack outside a bar in the Florence-Firestone area, where the defendants allegedly beat a man to death using a baseball bat.
Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, emphasized the barbaric tactics employed by Florencia 13. He expressed the shared commitment of law enforcement agencies to ensure that residents in the gang’s operating area can live without fear of violence and extortion.
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I remember reading about a similar case in my local news where law enforcement agencies conducted a series of raids targeting a drug trafficking ring operating in our city. The investigation had been ongoing for several months, and the raids were the culmination of their efforts to dismantle the criminal organization.
The authorities had identified key individuals involved in the drug trade and had gathered substantial evidence against them. The raids were conducted simultaneously at multiple locations, including known drug houses and properties suspected of being used for illegal activities.
During the raids,