SAN FRANCISCO – Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds held a press conference today to announce the unsealing of federal charges against 55 defendants, many of whom were members or affiliated with the Nuestra prison gang Familia and her subordinate street gangs. Acting U.S. Attorney Hinds joined the announcement by Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Craig D. Fair, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Wade R. Shannon of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Chief Office of Correctional Safety Derrick Marion, Santa Clara Sheriff Laurie Smith and San Jose Deputy Police Chief Elle Washburn.

The aim of the press conference was the unveiling of 17 indictment documents, including 14 indictments and 7 criminal complaints, laying out a wide range of charges against the defendants.

“No accused is responsible for all of the conduct I describe,” Acting US Attorney Hinds said. “The charges against each defendant are described in a charge document which is specific to each defendant. By disrupting gang leadership, we reduce violence on our streets. By removing violent actors and criminals from the streets, we are making our neighborhoods safer. “

According to documents released today, La Nuestra Familia – Spanish for “Our Family” – was a prison gang operating in the California state prison system. Norteño street gangs established in many cities and counties, as well as in prisons and prisons, in northern California and elsewhere, fall under the supervision of the gang. Several of the unsealed indictment documents today describe various aspects of the gang. For example, one indictment (here (Leadership)) describes largely incarcerated leadership, while another (here (SJG)) describes the activities of a street gang called the San Jose Grande and yet another ( here (EHP)) describes a group called El Hoyo Palmas Street Gang. The image that emerges is that of a violent and structured organization that funds its activities through crime and encourages its members to resort to violence against anyone who threatens the existence of the gang, including members who break gang rules. , gang members, and gang member rivals.

According to documents released today, of the 55 defendants, 28 have been charged with racketeering offenses, while the remainder have been charged with drug trafficking and gun-related offenses. The plots alleged in the indictments include agreements to distribute drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine; commit armed robberies; and to commit murder. Other defendants have been charged with other related crimes ranging from drug distribution to armed robbery.

Acting US Attorney Hinds emphasized the goal of “fishing with a spear, not a net”. “Working with our federal and state, local and tribal law enforcement partners, as well as affected communities, our law enforcement efforts have focused on addressing violent crime caused by gangs, ”Acting US Attorney Hinds said. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners, as well as members of our community, to identify and address the drivers of crime in our neighborhoods. We intend to continue delivering results by focusing on the needs of our communities.

“Operation Quiet Storm was one of the largest gang busting operations in the history of the FBI San Francisco Division,” said Craig D. Fair, FBI San Francisco Special Agent. “The coordinated efforts of this operation were conducted with one goal in mind: to disrupt the communications and organizational structure of a criminal network that has terrorized our neighborhoods for far too long.

“Today’s operation is a serious blow to the management of Nuestra Familia. This investigation revealed the gang’s vast influence that extends far beyond the prison walls. It is clear that they have hard and fast rules, and those who go against them face the intimidation and violence that is rampant in our communities, ”said the DEA special agent in charge. Shannon. “We will continue to look at these organizations structurally to disrupt and dismantle them. “

An indictment simply alleges that crimes have been committed, and the accused are presumed innocent until their guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being pursued by the Organized Crime Strike Force of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. The charge is the result of an investigation by the FBI (San Francisco, Sacramento, and Phoenix Divisions) and DEA, with assistance from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Santa Clara County Attorney’s Office and the San Jose Police Department, as well as support from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Police Department Antioch, Campbell Police Department, Fremont Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Office, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain View Police Department, Sacramento Police Department, Salinas Police Department, Menlo Park Police Department, Santa Clara County Parole Department, Santa Clara County Probation Department, Santa Clara Police Department, Santa Cruz County Attorney’s Office, Santa Cruz Office of the County Sheriff, Mod Police Department esto, San Francisco and Stanislaus County Police Department ty Sheriff’s Department and Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.

This investigation and prosecution is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”), which identifies, disrupts and dismantles the biggest drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten states- United using a multi-agency, intelligence-led, prosecutor-led approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.