L.A. street gangs tied to Mexican cartels exposed in sprawling bust

More than 1,000 pounds of illegal narcotics, hundreds of thousands in cash and an arsenal of firearms were recovered in an investigation targeting street gangs in Los Angeles County connected to Mexican cartels, local and federal law enforcement officials announced this week.

The investigation, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, began in Nov. 2022 when narcotics detectives and deputies from the Compton Sheriff’s Station executed a search warrant at a residence on South Willow Avenue.

The initial search of the premises revealed more than 275,000 fentanyl pills, 24 pounds of cocaine and nearly 9 pounds of heroin.

Two individuals were arrested and prosecuted for narcotics trafficking, including trafficking fentanyl near an elementary school, authorities said.

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“During the investigation, investigators learned that the Target Subjects were involved with local street gangs with direct ties to the Mexico cartels,” officials said.

Officials said that since Jan. 2023, local and federal detectives were able to expose a network of traffickers connected to cartels who were using local gang-operated stash houses in the county to fuel their operations, resulting in the recovery of:

• 808,000 fentanyl pills (approximately 201.8 pounds)

• 48 kilograms of compressed fentanyl (105.8 pounds)

• 46 kilograms of cocaine (101.2 pounds)

• 13.7 kilograms of heroin (30.2 pounds)

• 282.95 kilograms (622.49 pounds) of methamphetamine

• 55 gallons of diethyl ether, a precursor to PCP production

• $259,000 in suspected drug proceeds

• 21 loaded rifles, 43 loaded handguns, two loaded shotguns, and three loaded AR-15 rifles

On Nov. 13, LASD Narcotics Bureau, with assistance from U.S. Attorney’s Office, the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, served 13 search warrants throughout the county resulting in the arrests of:

• Barajas, Adrian MA 10/23/88-resident of Hawthorne

• Montiel, Alheli MA 11/10/84-resident of Hawthorne

• Olivarez, Esteban MA 01/01/96-resident of Desert Hot Springs

• Torres Fonseca, Oswaldo MA 05/05/99-resident of Los Angeles

• Madronero, Maria Carolina FA 10/29/97-resident of Los Angeles

• Jimenez-Sorto, Manuel MA 10/09/90-resident of Inglewood

• Rocha, Wilfredo MA 06/01/77-resident of East Los Angeles

• Ceja, Luis MA 03/14/71-resident of Sylmar

• Sanchez, Salvador MA 09/16/89-resident of Woodland Hills

• Bernardino, Domingo MA 12/21/93 resident of Los Angeles

• Estrada, Erik MA 05/27/96-resident of Compton

• Reveles, Manuel MA 07/22/1990-resident of South Gate

• Pieneda, Douglas MA 11/30/80-resident of Los Angeles

The organization faces various federal and state charges, including drug trafficking, weapons violations, child endangerment, felon in possession of firearms and conspiracy to distribute.

“If convicted, many [of the arrestees] face a minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment,” officials said.

Authorities said that since the investigation began, an estimated 50 people have been apprehended in connection with the case.

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