Sheriff’s authorities announced this week that a three-year investigation into illegal firearms and drug sales in the Antelope Valley has netted 18 arrests in one day.
In 2012, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Sheriff’s department and the Los Angeles Police Department launched a multi-agency task force that included more than 50 undercover operatives. They reportedly purchased or seized about a pound of crack cocaine, nearly a pound of methamphetamine, more than 500 Ecstasy pills and 35 firearms.
“Seven of the 35 seized firearms were found to be [illegal] weapons defined under the National Firearms Act (NFA),” said Joshua Stamsek, Lancaster community relations deputy. “One additional firearm and narcotics were recovered in the [Oct. 6] enforcement activity.”
Twenty-six persons in total have been indicted on allegations including possession of an NFA weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, dealing firearms without a license and possession with intent to distribute narcotics. Thirteen of the defendants also face federal charges; the remaining 13 face state charges. Some of the defendants were in police custody pending unrelated charges.
Eighteen of the defendants were taken into custody on Tuesday morning in Lancaster, Long Beach and in Van Nuys. If convicted, the defendants face a range of sentences from five years to life in prison.
