Federal bust nets high-powered assault weapons from Bell Gardens gang
Frank Stoltze/KPCC
Federal authorities showcase some of the guns seized in a home and warehouse in Bell Gardens Thursday. They accuse members of the "Barrio Evil-13" of trafficking large amounts of high powered guns, including AK-47s, Tec-9 sub-machine guns, and handguns equipped with silencers.
BELL GARDENS - The feds arrested nine members and associates of a Bell Gardens gang in a drug and weapons raid. One of the alleged gangsters claimed to be a hit man for a Mexican drug cartel, federal officials said today.
Agents arrested nine men Thursday following a nine-month investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that targeted the "Barrio Evil 13" street gang, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
CA/Local News
Agents served search warrants at homes in Bell Gardens and Los Angeles, and at a Bell Gardens warehouse used by the gang to store illegal weapons, according to ICE.
During the searches, agents recovered dozens of high-powered weapons, including assault rifles, handguns, silencers, a shotgun and thousands of rounds of ammunition, ICE reported.
Among the suspects was Henry "Silent" Valenzuela, 27, of Bell Gardens, who allegedly told an ICE undercover investigator that he is a hit man for a Tijuana-based drug cartel.
Valenzuela allegedly tried to recruit the undercover investigator to carry out "hits" in the Los Angeles area for a $10,000 fee, and allegedly claimed to have conducted one such murder in Barstow early this month. Authorities said they have not corroborated Valenzuela's murder claim.
Valenzuela and six other defendants were charged in a federal criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, including heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana. The charges carry a possible maximum penalty of life in prison, according to ICE.
The other six defendants facing federal charges were identified as:
-- Sergio "Lil Silent" Calderon, 23, of Bell Gardens;
-- Javier "Padrastro" Avila-Lopez, 40, of Los Angeles;
-- Eduardo Ortega-Plascencia, 39, of Los Angeles;
-- Margarito "Tito" Enciso, 27, of Long Beach;
-- Everado "Lalo" Venegas-Lumbreras, 38, of Bell Gardens; and
-- Silverio Palma-Carlin, 31, of Jalisco, Mexico.
The federal defendants were expected to make their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles today.
Two other defendants were arrested on state drug trafficking charges: Francisco Arellano, 32, and Alfredo Rutillo-Medina, 27, both of Nayarit, Mexico.
Assisting with Thursday's arrests were the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services; and officers from the Bell, Huntington Park, Vernon and Long Beach police departments.
"The gang members and associates charged in this criminal complaint are alleged to have trafficked not just in drugs, but in weapons," Acting U.S. Attorney George S. Cardona said in a statement.
"And not just any weapons, but weapons clearly intended for criminal conduct, including an AK-47 assault rifle, a Tec-9 sub-machine gun, a MAC-11 sub-machine gun and a sawed-off shotgun," Cardona said.
"The arrests made yesterday eliminate a source of firearms that would otherwise be out on the streets being used to commit additional violent crimes," Cardona said.
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1 month, 3 weeks ago
If the AK-47 was the semi-auto civilian model, not the select-fire military model, then it is not an "assault rifle".
The TEC-9 (all caps) is not a sub-machine gun. Sub-machine guns are full-auto firearms. TEC-9s are basically just your standard 9 mm semi-auto pistol, much like those made by Beretta, Walther, Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Taurus, etc.
Since illegal possession of an NFA Title II (AKA Class III) firearm, IOW a "machine gun" is not listed among the charges, the claims that any of the firearms are assault rifles or sub-machine guns is probably bogus.
1 month, 3 weeks ago
in response to Dave getting all technical regarding the weapons, give me a break, Drug Dealers with semi/full auto weapons who cares lets not split hairs guns are off the streets and out of the hands of guys who don't care if your kids, Mom or Grand-Mom are in the way the will shoot them to get to thier intended target. And if they get killed oh well they don't give a rats ass so they lose there guns they deserve to.
1 month, 3 weeks ago
Hyperbole is inappropriate in objective reporting, as is inaccuracy. Dave's points are valid. This type of journalism would not have taken place in the 1950s or even the 1970s. Evidence the decline of the Fourth Estate.
1 month, 3 weeks ago
Attorney Cardona said "...but weapons clearly intended for criminal conduct, including an AK-47 assault rifle..."
Mr. Cardona, I lawfully own a semiauto AK-47. It is clearly not intended for criminal conduct. It keeps me and my family safe. Commonly owned to be used for lawful purposes ... yes ... AK-47s are constitutionally protected tools.
1 month, 2 weeks ago
Wow! Who gives a hell about all the technicalities? Did anyone read what the article was ACTUALLY about? Perhaps they should let them all go, being that some journalist failed to please Captain Point-to-Prove.
1 month, 2 weeks ago
As you can see these are professional hit men, they just don't go out there and kill people that aren't involved. If that was the case don't you think they would of got cough for murder by now!? These men don't waste there time on killing people for free when they get paid to do it, so there really only focused on that particular target they are looking for. I come from an area were there is a lot of this going on in my neighbor hood as a matter of fact I believe I have met several of these guys. The gang members that just go out there and kill innocent people are the stupid hot heads that are new to the gang life and need to prove them self's to there friends. If I am correct and these are the guys I met, there very cool people not very into the gang life there more into the money there making being in a gang life. These guys have helped good people that deserve the help in these bad neighbor hoods. I don't see Obama paying the rent of a lady he does not know or paying for a some kids college books cause he heard they have money problems. Another thing most of the people these guys killed came from a family of crime which means the whole family was involved in some thing illegally. Sometimes it takes to do something bad in order to do something good!!