US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Several Members of Los Angeles Street Gang Arrested on Federal Charges Alleging Murder, Drug Trafficking
Authorities seized over 175 pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine in a multiagency operation targeting racketeering and violent control of MacArthur Park drug markets.
- On March 5, 2026, federal agents arrested 12 alleged members and associates of the 18th Street gang who prosecutors say controlled MacArthur Park as an open-air drug marketplace.
- Amid growing fentanyl visibility, local reporting and officials pushed for a sustained probe after a 2023 Los Angeles Daily News series highlighted MacArthur Park's drug hub, prompting the FBI's January 2023 Operation Dead Horse targeting gang leadership amid homeless encampments.
- Investigators seized more than 175 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl, agents recovered about $80,000 in cash and six firearms during arrests, and seven federal grand jury indictments charged racketeering conspiracy.
- Authorities say six fugitives remain, with one believed in Mexico and another in Guatemala, while five defendants were expected in federal court; Carillo and Beltran face mandatory life sentences and Gonzalez up to life.
- Beyond MacArthur Park, officials say the arrests help target broader networks linked to the Mexican Mafia and Sinaloa Cartel, with more than 100,000 members in the U.S.
Insights by Ground AI
15 Articles
15 Articles
In the action called "Operation Dead Horse", the FBI arrested eight alleged gang leaders; the federal agency is looking for six other fugitives
Feds, LAPD Arrest Members of 18th Street Gang
FBI agents and other law enforcement officers conducted raids Thursday that resulted in the arrests of several 18th Street Gang members and their associates related to illegal activities in the area of MacArthur Park in the Westlake District. Agents and partners with the Los Angeles Police Department and several federal agencies served multiple search and arrest warrants Thursday morning, seizing a cache of weapons, drugs and money. First Assist…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources15
Leaning Left3Leaning Right2Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution55% Center
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources are Center
55% Center
L 27%
C 55%
R 18%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
