LOS ANGELES, Calif.–Law enforcement officers today arrested 19 people for alleged firearms and drug violations in an anti-gang sting that involved a Venice tattoo parlor run by undercover agents.
“ATF will aggressively pursue these violent gangs that occupy our communities and will continue to work with our partners to ensure that they know we are coming for them,” Torres said.
“Operation Villainz Ink” targeted gang members in an area controlled primarily by the Venice 13, Chris Hoffman of the ATF said.
Those arrested sold illegal drugs, committed numerous firearms violations and sold a gun to an undercover ATF agent, Hoffman said.
Among those arrested were five people named in federal criminal complaints: George R. Lopez, 41, of Lawndale; Salvador Garcia, 29, of Los Angeles; Mario Vincent Lopez, 43, of Lawndale; Joey Edward Leyba, 37, of West Los Angeles; and Maribel Gordio, 35, of South Los Angeles.
A sixth person named in a federal criminal complaint–Cesar Perez Rios, 39, of Los Angeles–remains a fugitive, Hoffman said.
The four-month investigation was conducted by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Los Angeles Police Department, said John A. Torres, special agent in charge of the ATF field office in Los Angeles.
A recent uptick in crime at the beach, including a shooting and a stabbing on Ocean Front Walk, prompted Los Angeles police to make nearly 200 arrests over the weekend.
