Fighting Crime

Cracking Down On Violent Street Gangs

Lawsuit Seeking Injunction that Creates 1.4 Square-Mile Gang-Free Zone Around L.A. School. Fighting to protect the rights of students who have been "indiscriminately terrorized" by gang violence, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo today announced that they have filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction that creates a 1.4 square-mile gang-free zone around Fremont High School in Los Angeles. ("Brown and Delgadillo File Lawsuit Seeking Injunction that Creates 1.4 Square-Mile Gang-Free Zone Around L.A. School," Press Release 6/16/2009)

Obtained Injunction that Creates 1.4 Square-Mile Gang-Free Zone Around L.A. School. Fighting to protect students facing "wanton gang violence," Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich have won a court-ordered preliminary injunction creating a 1.4 square-mile gang-free zone around Fremont High School in Los Angeles. ("Brown and Trutanich Obtain Injunction that Creates 1.4 Square-Mile Gang-Free Zone Around L.A. School," Press Release 8/25/2009)

Takedown of "Merced Gangster Crips." Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that agents from the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement yesterday arrested 15 members of the "notorious and violent" Merced Gangster Crips on charges of conspiracy, drug-trafficking, and weapons sales. (Brown Announces Takedown of "Merced Gangster Crips" Press Release 5/19/09)

Charge Dozens of Street Gang Members and Associates in $500,000 Credit Union Scam. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and San Diego District Attorney
Bonnie Dumanis have filed 347 felony charges against dozens of members
and associates of a San Diego street gang for stealing more than
$500,000 from the Navy Federal Credit Union, using forged checks and an
Indian Casino cash machine. ("Brown and Dumanis Charge Dozens of Street Gang Members and Associates in $500,000 Credit Union Scam" Press Release 5/13/09)

Cracked Down On Violent Richmond Street Gang. Attorney General Brown and Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus announced the arrests of 18 gang members of the dangerous Deep Central criminal street gang that has been “wantonly terrorizing” Richmond for the last five years. Attorney General Brown authorized the gang investigation that resulted in a major gang takedown. (“Attorney General Brown Announces Crackdown on Violent Richmond Gang,” Press Release, 11/13/08)

Took Down Yuba City Street Gang. Attorney General Brown announced that officers from the Attorney General's Office, Yuba County Sheriff's Department and Sutter County Gang Task Force conducted “Operation Showdown” and arrested 25 people for gang activity, drug trafficking and illegal gun sales. (“Attorney General Brown's Office Announces Yuba City Gang Takedown,” Press Release, 11/13/08)

Busted San Diego and Temecula Valley Street Gangs. Attorney General Brown announced the arrests of three key gang members from the V-Boys and Tiny Oriental Crip gangs, two violent Southeast Asian street gangs “terrorizing California's cities and towns. (“Attorney General Brown Announces San Diego and Temecula Valley Asian Street Gang Busts,” Press Release, 10/31/08)

Cracked Down On Major Compton Street Gang. Further escalating the state's crackdown on violent gang activity, Attorney General Brown and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced that 24 Mob Piru gang members were arrested in the City of Compton. The arrests mark the conclusion of a major gang investigation, Operation Killen Court, launched by the Attorney General and the Los Angeles County Sheriff after Kyutza Herrera, an innocent bystander, was shot and killed during a drive-by shooting involving rival gang members. (“Brown Announces Major Compton Gang Crackdown, Arrest of Killer Mail Carrier,” Press Release, 7/08/08)

Take Down of San Joaquin Valley Steet Gang. Attorney General Brown joined the Porterville Police Department in announcing a major takedown of the Varrio Central Poros, a brutal criminal street gang that has “terrorized” the City of Porterville for years. , the California Department of Justice and the Porterville Police Department, with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies, served 23 search warrants and 21 arrest warrants on the criminal hierarchy of the Varrio Central Poros. They made 17 arrests. Agents seized cocaine, meth, weapons and ammunition for an AK47 during the takedown. (“Brown Announces San Joaquin Valley Hispanic Street Gang Takedown,” Press Release, 6/18/08)

Backed Oakland Police Department Acorn Gang Investigation, Takedown. Attorney General Brown joined the Oakland Police Department in announcing the results of “Operation Nutcracker,” a major takedown of the violent Acorn gang that has terrorized the East Bay with homicides, drug trafficking and carjacking. Approximately 250 officers from 17 state and local law enforcement agencies arrested at least 40 suspected gang members and associates, seized 8 guns, including 1 assault weapon, and confiscated drugs including marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy. (“Brown Backs Oakland Police Department's Acorn Gang Investigation, Takedown,” Press Release, 6/17/08)

Arrests Of Stockton Norteno Gang Members. California Department of Justice special agents, in partnership with the Stockton Police Department, arrested members of the violent Norteno street gang, which terrorized Stockton with drive-by shootings and crystal methamphetamine trafficking at the direction of the Nuestra Familia prison mafia. Agents seized 15 guns including 1 nine millimeter semi-automatic handgun, 2 rifles, 1 shotgun and various other handguns and ammunition. Agents also seized cocaine, methamphetamine, and $42,000. (“Atty. Gen. Brown Announces Norteno Gang Crackdown In Stockton,” Press Release, 5/28/08)

East Palo Alto Crime Crackdown. Attorney General Brown, community leaders and regional law enforcement officials announced the completion of Project Safe Neighborhood, a nine-month multi-agency crime crackdown and citizen mobilization aimed at curbing a wave of violence plaguing the City of East Palo Alto. Together with numerous law enforcement agencies, the East Palo Alto Police Department made over 250 arrests, 400 parole and probation searches, 500 gang contacts and seized 45 firearms. Since the project was initiated, crime and violence has dropped dramatically in the city. (“Brown Announces East Palo Alto Crime Crackdown, Praises Citizen Action,” Press Release, 10/09/07)

Dismantled San Diego Mexican Mafia Cell. Attorney General Brown announced the “total dismantlement” of a significant Mexican Mafia cell in Imperial and San Diego Counties after a twenty-month investigation led to the indictment of 31 mafia members. Brown’s office will prosecute the case with the Imperial County District Attorney. Defendants are charged with numerous criminal violations, including: conspiracy to commit extortion and distribution of narcotics, attempted murder, solicitation to commit murder, kidnapping, extortion, attempted extortion, torture, drug sales, firearms sales, assault with the intent to commit great bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of an assault weapon. (“Brown To Prosecute Violent Mexican Mafia Cell in San Diego,” Press Release, 8/30/07)

Busted Dangerous Central Valley Gang. Attorney General Brown announced a major gang takedown, following the arrest of dozens of A-Town Gang members in the town of Atwater. The crackdown, by State Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement agents, included significant drug and gun seizures. (“State Attorney General Cracks Down On Central Valley Gang,” Press Release, 8/02/07)

Took Down Key Leaders Of Stockton Street Gang. Attorney General Brown announced a major take down of key leaders of the Loc Town Crips (LTC), a Stockton-based Cambodian street gang responsible for extensive drug and gun trafficking in California and throughout the country. The attorney general's investigation, which began last December, uncovered widespread violence and drug dealing, including drive-by shootings and sales of methamphetamine, ecstasy and marijuana in California, North Carolina, Ohio, Philadelphia and Rhode Island. Gang members arrested Wednesday were charged with multiple weapons and drug offenses. (“Vicious Gang Taken Down,” Press Release, 6/06/07)

Supporting The Law Enforcement Community

Calls on Public to Help Identify Suspects Who Attempted to Kill Police Officers. Following three "brazen attempts to kill" police officers in the past several weeks, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. joined Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco, Riverside County Sheriff Stanley Sniff, Hemet Police Chief Richard Dana and Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone to urge the public to come forward with any information on these incidents. ("Brown Calls on Public to Help Identify Suspects Who Attempted to Kill Police Officers," Press Release 3/18/2010)

Petitions California Supreme Court to Review Body Armor Decision. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. petitioned the California Supreme Court to review the Second Appellate District Court of Appeal's ruling which "wrongly threw out" the law banning felons from possessing body armor. ("Brown Petitions California Supreme Court to Review Body Armor Decision," Press Release 1/22/2010)

Announced Major DNA Lab Expansion. Attorney General Brown announced a major expansion of California's DNA laboratory and database, preparing the state to begin collecting DNA samples from every felony arrestee beginning January 1, 2009. Since Proposition 69 passed in 2004, the state laboratory has uploaded an average of nearly 200,000 DNA profiles annually. When law enforcement begins collecting DNA from every adult felony arrestee in January 2009, the quantity of DNA submissions is estimated to increase to 390,000 per year. (“Brown Announces Major DNA Lab Expansion,” Press Release, 5/5/08)

• Unveiled New DNA Technique To Crack Unsolved Crimes. Attorney General Brown announced a new DNA search policy that will improve the ability of local law enforcement to investigate unsolved violent crimes by providing new investigative leads. Currently, the state laboratory alerts local law enforcement when a crime scene sample exactly matches--at all 26 genetic markers--the DNA of an offender in the state offender database. 15 or more shared markers indicate that the person in the database could be a close relative of the source of the crime scene evidence. Under California's new search technique, the state laboratory will release this relative's identity to local law enforcement if the agency adheres to a strict protocol to ensure that personal privacy is carefully protected. (“Brown Unveils DNA Technique To Crack Unsolved Crimes,” Press Release, 4/25/08)

• Eliminated DNA Data Bank Backlog. Attorney General Brown announced that the backlog of DNA samples collected from convicted felons-which stood at 295,000 in July 2006-has been eliminated. The Attorney General's Office, in collaboration with the Governor, identified the critical need to eliminate the developing backlog. Utilizing existing personnel in a special overtime project, along with the validation and implementation of new methods, the Program boosted analytical capacity to over 40,000 DNA samples per month. ( “Brown Announces Elimination of DNA Data Bank Backlog,” Press Release, 9/10/07)

Announced Statewide Crackdown On Illegal Gun Possession. Attorney General Brown and Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton announced the seizure of 541 handguns, rifles and assault weapons during a "statewide crackdown" on 1,000 dangerous individuals barred from firearms possession because of violent felony convictions. Department of Justice agents utilized a state database, known as the Armed and Prohibited Persons System, to identify persons who lawfully acquired firearms in the past but became barred from possession due to a subsequent felony conviction. (“Brown Cracks Down On Illegal Gun Possession,” Press Release, 12/10/07)

Issued Medical Marijuana Guidelines For Law Enforcement And Patients. Attorney General Brown released guidelines that, for the first time since California's Proposition 215 was passed in 1996, clarify the state's laws governing medical marijuana and provide clear guidelines for patients and law enforcement to ensure that medical marijuana is not diverted to illicit markets. This landmark document marks the first attempt by a state agency to define the types of organizations that are legally permitted to dispense marijuana. (“Atty. General Brown Issues Medical Marijuana Guidelines for Law Enforcement and Patients,” Press Release, 8/25/08)

Other Criminal Prosecutions

Announced a $94 Million Agreement with Western Union to Fight Money Laundering by Mexican Cartels. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced a $94 million settlement with Western Union Financial Services, Inc., that resolves a decade-long investigation into illicit money transfers that "have flowed freely" in the Southwest border region. ("Brown and Arizona AG Goddard Announce $94 Million Agreement with Western Union to Fight Money Laundering by Mexican Cartels," Press Release 2/11/2010)

Sent Arsonist to Prison for Attempted Murder of San Diego County Nursing Home Residents. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that Mary Louise Wilson, 54, of San Diego, has been sentenced to 19 years and 4 months in prison for attempting to "kill or seriously injure" nursing home residents by setting fires in the homes. ("Brown Sends Arsonist to Prison for Attempted Murder of San Diego County Nursing Home Residents," Press Release 2/8/2010)

Announced Former State Bar Employee Will Spend 2 Years, 8 Months in Prison for Embezzlement and Tax Fraud. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that Sharon Elyce Pearl, 52, of Oakland, the former Director of Real Property for the State Bar of California, has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison after she "methodically embezzled" more than $600,000 from her employer to spend on spa treatments, designer clothes and other luxury items. ("Brown Announces Former State Bar Employee Will Spend 2 Years, 8 Months in Prison for Embezzlement and Tax Fraud ," Press Release 2/5/2010)

Recovers College Scholarship Funds Raided by Trustee. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced a settlement with James L. Harrison, 62, of Ukiah, after he "looted college scholarship funds" from a Trust intended to benefit female graduates of Ukiah High School pursuing careers in medicine. ("Brown Recovers College Scholarship Funds Raided by Trustee," Press Release 1/20/2010)

Stopped UCLA Professor from Improperly Using Charitable Donations to Fund Personal Business Ventures. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. has filed legal action to permanently stop Professor Gerald D. Buckberg, M.D., and five officers of the nonprofit L.B. Research Foundation from "diverting donations" from the charity to their own personal business ventures and medical research activities. ("Brown Sues to Stop UCLA Professor from Improperly Using Charitable Donations to Fund Personal Business Ventures," Press Release 9/9/2009)

Arrests Former GM of Chukchansi Casino for Using Casino Funds to Purchase Shelby Mustang. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that agents from his Bureau of Gambling Control, working with the FBI, arrested Chukchansi Casino's former General Manager, Jeff Livingston, who "willfully abused his trust" by using a corporate credit card to spend more than $30,000 on down payments for two cars and a Hawaiian golf vacation. ("Brown Arrests Former GM of Chukchansi Casino for Using Casino Funds to Purchase Shelby Mustang," Press Release 7/24/2009)

Sends Counterfeiter to Prison. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that Kim Louise Lemoine, 36, who passed "bogus" state government checks totaling $308,000, was sentenced today to five years in prison on charges of identity theft, forgery and grand theft. ("Brown Sends Counterfeiter to Prison," Press Release 7/8/2009)

Shuts Down Illegal Gaming Operations in Stockton and San Diego. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that agents from his office raided Internet cafes in Stockton and San Diego that illegally operated "Las Vegas-style games" including video poker, keno and slots. ("Brown Shuts Down Illegal Gaming Operations in Stockton and San Diego," Press Release 6/26/2009)

Take Down Of Illegal Southern California Gambling Ring. Attorney General Brown announced that California Department of Justice special agents, assisted by the FBI, brought down an illegal gambling ring which took bets on the winning numbers of the California Daily 3, paid out the cash and hoarded the profits. The 18-month joint investigation found the organization sold lottery tickets in Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Gabriel, and the San Joaquin Valley. (“Attorney General Brown Announces Takedown of Illegal Gambling Ring,” Press Release, 10/10/08)

Charged Inland Empire Fundraisers With Felony Campaign Money Laundering. Attorney General Brown and Riverside District Attorney Rod Pacheco announced a 37-count indictment against Mark Anthony Leggio, James Lloyd Deremiah, Nicola Cacucciolo, and Nick Vito Cacucciolo, for exceeding $3,300 Senate and Assembly campaign contribution limits by laundering money through various friends and associates. (“State Charges Inland Empire Fundraisers With Felony Campaign Money Laundering,” Press Release, 6/16/08)

Indicted Construction Company And District Official For Diverting $3.6 Million From Schools. Attorney General Brown announced a 74-count felony indictment against a former Santa Maria-Bonita School District official and three executives from TurnKey, a Temecula-based company, for misappropriating $3.6 million in public money for schools. Between 2000 and 2002, TurnKey signed $62 million in construction management contracts with the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, promising to complete 16 school projects. Financial records show that TurnKey executives instead used District money to pay for expensive cars, artwork, and to pay cash bonuses to themselves. The company submitted false invoices for services to the District, with knowledge from Assistant Superintendent Cynthia Lynn Clark. (“Construction Company And District Official Indicted For Diverting $3.6 Million From Schools,” Press Release, 4/14/08)

Busted Multi-State Retail Burglary Scheme. Attorney General Brown announced that two Texan shoplifters will be arraigned on commercial burglary charges for buying and returning $375,000 in stolen goods at retailers including Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Victoria's Secret and Gap across 34 states. The thieves defrauded retailers using a complicated refund and exchange process involving 27 different credit and debit cards. The suspects moved from store to store, returning more items than were originally purchased to exact profit. (“Retail Burglary Scheme Busted in San Diego,” Press Release,12/10/07)

Bust of Northern California Casino Counterfeiters. Attorney General Brown announced that the Division of Gambling Control has caught, red-handed, two counterfeiters who were feeding fake $100 bills into slot machines at a Tribal Casino in Mendocino County. The counterfeiters bilked at least 20 casinos in California and Nevada out of more than $100,000. (“Brown's Division of Gambling Control Busts Casino Counterfeiters,” Press Release, 9/20/07)

Arrested Suspected Casino Heist Ring-Leader. Attorney General Brown announced that special agents of the California Department of Justice and Riverside deputy sheriffs have apprehended Rolando Luda Ramos, a Soboba Casino surveillance technician, believed to have master-minded a $1.5 million casino robbery. (“Attorney General Brown's Special Investigation Unit Arrests Suspected Casino Heist Ring-Leader,” Press Release, 8/06/07)

Shutting Down Illegal Drug Operations

Convictions of 31 Mexican Mafia Gang Members in Extortion and Drug Trafficking Cell. In a "fatal blow" to one of the most extensive, organized and violent extortion and drug trafficking operations in Imperial County history, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the successful prosecution of all 31 members of a Mexican Mafia cell. ("Brown Announces Convictions of 31 Mexican Mafia Gang Members in Extortion and Drug Trafficking Cell," Press Release 3/25/2010)

Heroin Trafficking Ring Shut Down. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that agents from the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement Task Force, Yuba-Sutter Narcotic Enforcement Team (NET-5) arrested three men for heroin trafficking in the Yuba-Sutter area and seized 3.5 pounds of heroin, $32,887 in cash and six weapons. ("Brown Announces Heroin Trafficking Ring Shut Down," Press Release 3/5/2010)

16 Indictments, 550 Pound Drug Seizure Following Infiltration of Sinaloa Cartel. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that, working with Imperial County District Attorney Gilbert Otero, his office has secured indictments against 16 individuals and seized over 550 pounds of cocaine and marijuana, dealing a "body blow" to Mexico's notorious Sinaloa drug cartel. ("Brown Announces 16 Indictments, 550 Pound Drug Seizure Following Infiltration of Sinaloa Cartel," Press Release 8/26/2009)

Six Arrests, Seizure of $1.1 Million in U.S. Currency in Latest Sinaloa Drug Cartel Bust. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that agents from his office have once again "successfully disrupted" operations of the dangerous Sinaloa drug cartel, seizing more than $1.1 million in U.S. currency and arresting six individuals who attempted to purchase approximately 160 pounds of cocaine this week. ("Brown Announces Six Arrests, Seizure of $1.1 Million in U.S. Currency in Latest Sinaloa Drug Cartel Bust," Press Release 9/3/2009)

Seized $7 Million Worth of Heroin in East Palo Alto. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that agents from the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement arrested a Mexican national, Adan Alfonso Herrera, and seized 70 pounds of heroin from his Lincoln Towncar on Sacramento Street in East Palo Alto. ("Brown Announces Seizure of $7 Million Worth of Heroin in East Palo Alto," Press Release 7/21/2009)

Announced Seizure Of Black Tar Heroin Worth $10 Million. Attorney General Brown announced that agents from the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement on Saturday arrested a Mexican national, Gerardo Medina Hernandez, and seized 95 pounds of black tar heroin from his sports utility vehicle. ( “Brown Announces Weekend Seizure of Black Tar Heroin Worth $10 Million,” Press Release, 4/06/09)

Shut Down Dangerous Northern California Ecstacy Drug Ring. Attorney General Brown along with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Major Crimes Task Force announced the arrest of nine people involved in a “dangerous drug ring” that operated ecstasy (MDMA) labs throughout Northern California. (“Attorney General Brown and Mendocino County Sheriff Shut Down Ecstasy Ring,” Press Release, 1/27/09)

Shut Down Mobile Meth Lab In Butte County. California Attorney General Brown announced that special agents in the California Department of Justice Bureau of Gambling Control and Butte County Inter-Agency Task Force have shut down a methamphetamine laboratory operating from motor homes parked at Feather Falls Casino. (“Attorney General Brown Announces Mobile Meth Lab Bust In Casino Lot,” Press Release, 5/14/08)

Shut Down Santa Rosa Drug Distribution Ring And Meth Lab. California Attorney General Brown announced that California Department of Justice agents arrested eight suspects in connection with a Santa Rosa drug distribution ring and methamphetamine laboratory in the town of Winton. The arrests mark the conclusion of a three month investigation, led by the California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, into a drug trafficking ring which originated in Santa Rosa. (“Brown Announces Meth Lab And Santa Rosa Drug Ring Bust,” Press Release, 3/13/08)