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Source: US FBI

Defendant Allegedly Carried Multiple Weapons into Capitol Building Including a Short Sword, Whip, and Collapsible Baton

Source: US FBI

LOS ANGELES – Federal and local law enforcement officials today announced the unsealing of federal grand jury indictments charging a total of 37 members and associates of the South Los Angeles-based Florencia 13 (F13) street gang, alleging a series of crimes, including fentanyl trafficking, extortion, and three murders, including that of a man beaten to death outside a bar in the gang’s “territory.”

Today’s takedown resulted in the arrests of 23 F13 members and associates who are expected to be arraigned on 11 indictments this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Six of the defendants were already in state or federal custody, and authorities continue to search for eight other defendants charged in these cases, including multiple defendants currently believed to be fugitives in Mexico.

As part of this investigation, law enforcement has seized approximately 21 pounds of methamphetamine, nine pounds of fentanyl, and 6.5 pounds of heroin. Authorities also have seized 25 firearms and approximately $70,000 in cash connected to this investigation.

“Through murder, drug trafficking, violent robberies, and other criminal behavior, street gangs bring devastation upon our communities,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “We must stand united against gang violence. Today’s arrests and seizures demonstrate that we will be relentless in combating these criminal organizations.”

“Florencia-13 is known for its barbaric tactics which, tragically, resulted in several murders alleged in the indictment,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field office. “Residents of the community in which Florencia-13 operates deserve to live their lives without fear from violence and extortion, and this joint investigation demonstrates our shared commitment to that goal.”

“Today’s coordinated take down of gang members associated with the ‘Florencia 13’ criminal street gang creates safer neighborhoods by removing dangerous individuals from our communities and disrupting their criminal network that fuels this violence,” said Sheriff Robert G. Luna. “By removing key offenders from our streets who instill fear and terrorize our communities, we are taking decisive action to restore safety and enhance the quality of life for all residents. Our commitment to reducing gang violence remains unwavering as we work together to build safer, stronger communities.”

The bulk of the charges in today’s takedown comes from two federal grand jury indictments targeting Florencia 13. The first indictment charges 19 defendants – including Celerino Jaramillo, 30, a.k.a. “Bizzy,” of South Los Angeles, a “shot caller” in one of F13’s cliques – with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

Among a series of alleged racketeering-related crimes, during one incident on October 17, 2022, a mob of F13 members – including Jonathan Reyes, 19, a.k.a. “Creeper,” of South Los Angeles – beat one victim to death in the early morning outside a bar in the Florence-Firestone neighborhood of Los Angeles. The victim repeatedly was stomped, kicked, and punched, and beaten with a baseball bat.

The indictment further alleges that Jaramillo and co-defendant Oscar Hernandez, 30, a.k.a. “Drex,” of South Los Angeles, on June 19, 2023, murdered a victim identified in court documents as “R.A.,” an F13 member who had violated the gang’s rules. The day after R.A.’s was shot and killed, Jaramillo allegedly told fellow gang members that he wanted Hernandez inducted into F13’s Jokers clique because he “proved [Jaramillo] solid.”

The following month, Jaramillo and Hugo Armando Pineda, 36, a.k.a. “Menace,” of South Los Angeles, allegedly murdered “D.E.,” another F13 member in bad standing.

The rest of this superseding indictment alleges a series of criminal activity by Jaramillo and others, including the running of “casitas,” or illegal after-hours bars and clubs, including collection of extortionate “taxes” from them, trafficking of narcotics such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, and illegal use and possession of firearms.

A second indictment unsealed today charges eight Florencia 13 associates – including Saul Ayon Quintero, 50, of Bellflower – with drug-related crimes, including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin, and illegally using and possessing firearms and ammunition.

Finally, nine additional Florencia 13 members and associates are charged in eight separate indictments with methamphetamine distribution counts, and another Florencia 13 member is charged in a separate indictment with possession of an unregistered firearm and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted, most of the defendants would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the United States Marshals Service are investigating this matter.

Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher C. Kendall and Daniel H. Weiner of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting these cases.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Source: US FBI

LOS ANGELES – The owner of a tattoo removal business in South Gate pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for recruiting paraplegics in a health care fraud scheme that netted more than $1.7 million and for cheating on his taxes.

Joseph Tusia, 60, of Leominster, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with health care fraud and tax evasion.

According to his plea agreement, Tusia operated a laser tattoo removal business in South Gate and 10 durable medical equipment supply companies (DMEs) in California, Nevada, and Massachusetts. Tusia controlled the tattoo removal companies and the DMEs but intentionally withheld his name from bank accounts and state registrations to evade tax liability.

On December 30, 2015, Tusia and a co-schemer submitted an application to Anthem Blue Cross (“Anthem”) for a small group health insurance plan. Anthem’s small group plan permitted benefits and health coverage for permanent employees who worked full-time. Despite the eligibility requirements, Tusia caused to be submitted to Anthem the names of nine individuals purported to be full-time employees of Tattoo Removal and a person who was a dependent of the Tusia. None of these purported employees were employed by Tattoo Removal or eligible for health insurance coverage under Tattoo Removal’s plan with Anthem. 

According to his plea agreement, Tusia identified the Purported Tattoo Removal Employees from his friends and associates who were paraplegic and required medical supplies, knowing and expecting that the Purported Tattoo Removal Employees would purchase their medical supplies from the DMEs that were controlled by Tusia and his associates.

From March 2016 to June 2020, Tusia and his co-schemers submitted fraudulent claims to Anthem on behalf of the DMEs for medical supplies provided to the purported employees, knowing that none of them were eligible for coverage. As a result of these fraudulent claims, Anthem paid the DMEs controlled by Tusia approximately $1,731,215.

Tusia also admitted in his plea agreement to knowingly and willfully failing to report income he received from the DMEs in tax years 2017 through 2020, totaling more than $1,573,644. Tusia admitted that he failed to pay tax to the IRS and that he took affirmatives steps to evade paying taxes, such as by creating the DMEs and opening bank accounts for the DMEs in the names of his associates and co-schemers.

United States District Judge George Wu scheduled a December 5 sentencing hearing, at which time Tusia will face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison on the health care fraud count, and up to five years in federal prison for the tax evasion count.

The United States Department of Labor – Employee Benefits Security Administration, the FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Mitchell of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.

Source: US FBI

LOS ANGELES – A former Syrian government official was indicted today for allegedly lying to United States immigration authorities about his time running a Syrian prison where prisoners, including political dissidents, were physically mistreated.

Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 72, of Lexington, South Carolina, is charged with one count of obtaining, using, and possessing a green card that was procured through false statements and one count of attempted naturalization fraud.

Alsheikh was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on July 10 at Los Angeles International Airport and remains in federal custody. His arraignment is scheduled for August 16 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

“Samir Alsheikh attempted to settle in Southern California after allegedly participating in grave abuses while part of the Assad regime in Syria,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “His indictment sends a clear message that those who seek immigration benefits in our country after having previously committed human rights violations will find no shelter here.”

According to court documents, Alsheikh was a Syrian government official who held a variety of positions in the Syrian police and the Syrian state security apparatus, and was associated with the Syrian Ba’ath Party, the totalitarian party that ruled Syria.

He allegedly served as the head of Damascus Central Prison (colloquially known as “Adra Prison”) from approximately 2005 to 2010. As described in the indictment, political dissidents and other prisoners were severely physically abused at Adra Prison during Alsheikh’s tenure there. The indictment further alleges that Alsheikh was subsequently appointed governor of the province of Deir Ez-Zour by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Alsheikh allegedly concealed his employment at the prison, persecution of any person because of political opinion, and involvement in harming others when he applied for U.S. citizenship in 2023. He allegedly made similar false statements when applying for a visa that enabled him to enter the United States in 2020, become a lawful permanent resident, and obtain a green card.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted, Alsheikh faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

HSI and the FBI are investigating the case, with support from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the HSI-led Human Rights Violators and War Criminals Center (HRVWCC).

Assistant United States Attorney Joshua O. Mausner of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Justice Department Trial Attorneys Patrick Jasperse and Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance.

Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE, or complete the FBI online tip form or the ICE online tip form.

Source: US FBI

LOS ANGELES – A Compton man was sentenced today to 127 months in federal prison for leading a Southern California-based drug trafficking organization that shipped kilogram quantities of cocaine to Alaska via commercial flights and U.S. mail.

Raul Cisneros Jr., 46, was sentenced by United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin.

Cisneros pleaded guilty May 9 to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He has been in federal custody since October 2020 and was the final defendant to plead guilty to criminal charges in this case.

From at least July 2014 to August 2016, Cisneros managed the operations of a drug trafficking outfit that sold cocaine and methamphetamine to customers.

In October 2015, law enforcement stopped Cisneros in his car while he was en route to an accomplice’s home to pick up money. In his car, Cisneros possessed approximately $5,003 in cash, which were drug proceeds. He also possessed approximately 10 kilograms (22.1 pounds) of cocaine packaged in five separate bundles, which he intended to sell to customers.

After obtaining a search warrant for Cisneros’ home, law enforcement seized from Cisneros’ kitchen cabinets approximately 30.7 kilograms (66.1 pounds) of cocaine, approximately 167.7 grams of crack cocaine, and approximately 3.6 kilograms (1.1 pounds) of methamphetamine. Law enforcement also found hundreds of used empty green cellophane wrappers and a money counter, which Cisneros used to facilitate his drug distribution operation.

Law enforcement also seized from Cisneros’ kitchen four firearms and 72 rounds of ammunition during this search.

In total, agents recovered $568,357 in cash proceeds from drug deals and – in the trunk of Cisneros’ white Honda Accord vehicle, which was parked in the driveway of his residence – approximately 7.02 kilograms (15.5 pounds) of cocaine wrapped in seven packages of green cellophane stashed inside a bag. Cisneros intended to distribute the cocaine to others as part of his drug trafficking operation.

Federal prosecutors secured eight convictions in this matter.

The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Southern California Drug Task Force (SCDTF) consisting of the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this matter.  Substantial assistance was provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.  This investigation was conducted with the support of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).

Assistant United States Attorneys Kathy Yu, Chief of Ethics and Post-Conviction Review, and Chelsea Norell of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Source: US FBI

LOS ANGELES – Two Ventura County men were sentenced today to federal prison terms for their roles in a crime spree late last year in which a taco truck vendor was extorted, two small businesses were robbed, and for fraudulently using debit and credit cards from a victim robbed at gunpoint.

Oscar Aguirre Silva, 31, of Ventura, was sentenced to 72 months (six years) in federal prison by United States District Judge Hernán D. Vera, who also ordered him to pay $2,941 in restitution.

Silva pleaded guilty on April 25 to one count of interference with commerce by extortion (Hobbs Act), two counts of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), three counts of bank fraud, two counts of attempted bank fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

At a separate hearing today, Judge Vera sentenced Edward Donaldo Ramirez Martinez, 28, of Ventura, a co-defendant, to 54 months (4½ years) in federal prison. Ramirez was ordered to pay $1,597 in restitution.

Ramirez pleaded guilty on April 25 to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.

“The victims in this case were people just trying to make a living by operating a food truck when they were allegedly robbed at gunpoint,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Violent gun crime tears at the fabric of our society. Punishing those who engage in violent gun offenses is and will continue to be a priority for my office. Our community deserves no less.”

On November 6, 2023, Silva threatened violence to extort a taco truck vendor in Oxnard. Four days later, Silva robbed a woman at gunpoint and stole her iPhone, and her purse, which contained a credit card and a debit card in the victim’s name as well as a debit card in the name of another victim. Ramirez served as the getaway driver during this armed robbery. Both men then traveled to a Walmart store in Ventura, where they used the stolen cards to purchase $524 worth of merchandise. Later, Silva and another co-defendant, David Ray Reyes, 30, of Ventura, then used and attempted to use the stolen cards to purchase other items at an Oxnard smoke shop.

On November 25 and 26, 2023, Silva robbed two Oxnard businesses – a smoke shop and a grocery outlet.

Finally, on December 2, 2023, Ramirez, while under the influence of methamphetamine, possessed an assault rifle that did not bear a serial number – commonly known as a “ghost gun.” The firearm carried four rounds of ammunition. Ramirez was not legally permitted to possess the ghost gun or the ammunition because of his February 2020 felony conviction in Ventura County Superior Court for carrying a loaded firearm.

Reyes pleaded guilty on March 6 to one count of attempted bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. On June 6, Judge Vera sentenced Reyes to 26 months in federal prison.

All three defendants remain in federal custody.

Operation Safe Cities establishes strategic enforcement priorities with an emphasis on prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime. Across this region, the most damaging and horrific crimes are committed by a relatively small number of particularly violent individuals. This strategic enforcement approach is expected to increase the number of arrests, prosecutions and convictions of recidivists engaged in the most dangerous conduct. It is designed to improve public safety across the region by targeting crimes involving illicit guns, prohibited persons possessing firearms, or robbery crews that cause havoc and extensive losses to retail establishments.

The Ventura County Violent Crime Task Force, which includes the FBI, the Oxnard Police Department, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ventura Police Department, conducted this investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney Lyndsi C. Allsop of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.