CDCR staff assisted local, state and federal law enforcement agencies May 28 for Operation Hands Down, a large-scale gang takedown.
Overall, 43 search warrants were served at different locations throughout the San Joaquin Valley.
This marked the culmination of a two-month undercover operation focusing on Mexican Mafia and Sureño gang members committing various crimes.
Crimes included homicides, firearms trafficking, narcotics trafficking, shootings, robberies, assaults, sex offenses against minors and organized violence within custodial facilities.
Results:
- 69 arrests
- 73 guns, many high-capacity magazines, rounds of ammunition seized
- narcotics, cash confiscated
The drugs included 55 pounds of methamphetamine, three pounds of cocaine and a small amount of fentanyl powder. Nearly $165,000 was seized, which derived from narcotics trafficking, firearms sales and organized street gang taxes.
The arrests of these men, women and children are expected to have an immediate impact on lowering violence across California’s Central Valley.
“By disrupting these criminal organizations, we are confident our hard work will deliver a sense of peace to residents who deserve to feel safe in their communities,” according to the agencies.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC) thanked the numerous law enforcement agencies for their assistance throughout this investigation.
Multiple agencies focus on disrupting gangs
In total, more than 500 law enforcement members participated.
Some of their specialized assignments are: Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT), Air Support Unit, K-9 Unit, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Incident Management Team (IMT), Dispatch Unit, Crime Analyst Unit and Fresno County Jail Correctional Officers.
Participating agencies / task forces included:
- California Department of Justice Special Operations Unit
- Federal Bureau of Investigations
- Fresno County District Attorney’s Office
- Homeland Security Investigations
- CHP
- CDCR
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- U.S. Marshals Service
- Police departments from Clovis, Coalinga, Fresno, Kingsburg, Madera, Reedley, Sanger, Selma and Visalia
- Tulare County Sheriff’s Regional Gun Violence Enforcement Team (TARGET)
- Kings County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Task Force (MCTF)
- Madera County Sheriff’s Office
- Merced County Sheriff’s Gang and Narcotic Enforcement Team (MAGNET)
This remains an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information that can help detectives, report it by contacting the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at 559-600-3111. You may also contact Valley Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867 or www.valleycrimestoppers.org. You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
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