Federal agents served arrest warrants at multiple locations in Los Angeles and Orange counties early Thursday as part of an investigation into alleged Mexican Mafia activity.
Raids took place at locations in Lakewood, Anaheim and Santa Ana, but specific details were not immediately available. It was unclear how many people were taken into custody.
The so-called Mexican Mafia, also known as El Eme, has a major presence in prisons in the Southern California area and beyond.
A news conference was planned for later Thursday morning at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Santa Ana, where arrests and charges were to be announced.
Expected to attend were First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli; Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office; Santa Ana Police Chief Robert Rodriguez; Anaheim Police Chief Manny Cid; Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Los Angeles Field Office Oleg Pobereyko; Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua; and Orange County Assistant Sheriff Cory Martino.
Essayli was in Lakewood as one of the raids was taking place, according to an ABC7 report from the scene.