The FBI and LAPD announced arrests Wednesday stemming from an investigation that targeted a Los Angeles gang and the Mexican Mafia.
In October 2022, gang investigators from the LAPD's Harbor Division began working on a joint investigation with the FBI. They targeted the Westside Wilmas criminal gang which they believed was involved in the sale of illegal firearms and narcotics throughout the Harbor area.
According to authorities, their investigation widened the Southern California gang and expanded into the Mexican Mafia.
The FBI has served search warrants at locations throughout the South Bay and in the Bakersfield area, according to authorities.
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Seven of those arrested Wednesday are among 10 defendants named across three criminal complaints filed in Los Angeles federal court. One defendant is in state custody, and law enforcement continues to search for three others.
Authorities arrested an additional four defendants on state charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In relation to charges unsealed Wednesday, authorities allegedly seized 23 firearms, 57.7 pounds of methamphetamine, about 23,000 fentanyl pills, 5.2 pounds of powdered fentanyl and 2.2 pounds of cocaine.
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The seven federal defendants arrested Wednesday are charged in complaints filed May 10 with various federal crimes, including distribution of controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to an affidavit filed with one of the complaints, the task force has investigated highly placed members and associates of two Harbor-area gangs who were suspected of being involved in a host of illegal activities.
Both gangs are based in Wilmington, near the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said the gangs commit their crimes under the direction and authority of the Mexican Mafia, a California prison gang that controls many of the Latino street gangs in Southern California.
One Mexican Mafia associate directs firearm and drug sales on the street from prison despite being sentenced to death for murder, prosecutors said.
The complaint affidavit alleges that from last October to February, reputed local gang member and Mexican Mafia associate Patricia Amelia Limon, 53, of Lomita, fulfilled seven drug and firearm deals under the direction of the Mexican Mafia associate on death row. Limon personally, and at least once
through an intermediary, supplied methamphetamine, fentanyl, firearms and ammunition to a buyer and collected money on behalf of the Mexican Mafia member, court papers allege.
In one deal on Nov. 2, Limon allegedly supplied 5,000 rainbow-colored fentanyl pills to a buyer for $5,300. Fifteen days later, Limon allegedly supplied 3.8 pounds of methamphetamine and 2,000 fentanyl pills to a buyer for $5,000. The affidavit further alleges that Limon engaged in other illicit sales of fentanyl and firearms.
The affidavit further alleges that Jesus Chuy Delgado, 46, of San Pedro, who reputedly is a high-ranking Harbor-area gang member, engaged in a series of methamphetamine and firearms sales, including several in January and February that allegedly occurred across the street from a high school and a
middle school in San Pedro.
Delgado allegedly sold firearms -- including semi-automatic weapons lacking a serial number, commonly known as ghost guns -- and 1.95 pounds of methamphetamine while on parole, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
If convicted, Limon and Delgado -- who are charged with distribution of controlled substances -- would face a sentence of up to life in federal prison, prosecutors noted.
City News Service contributed to this reporting.
