Mexican Mafia Members Arrested In ATF Drug Cartel Bust In Montebello

MONTEBELLO (CBSLA.com/AP) — The completion of two major investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives resulted in the arrest Monday of nearly two dozen suspects tied to  a Mexican Mafia prison gang.

More than 400 officers from the ATF and several local law enforcement agencies served 30 search warrants across Los Angeles County in connection with a federal grand jury indictment.

The indictments contend that members and associates of the Mexican Mafia allied with a Mexican methamphetamine cartel called La Familia Michoacana and also controlled a Los Angeles County street gang called Florencia 13.

Authorities contend that members of the prison gang control much of the narcotics trafficking and other activities of local Hispanic gangs from behind bars.

"The indictment alleges that participants in the Project sought to give La Familia members "free rein" to sell methamphetamine in Southern California and to provide protection for incarcerated cartel members in exchange for money and methamphetamine going to Mexican Mafia members," Hoffman said.

Authorities also confiscated numerous firearms and 600 pounds of meth during the raids.

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