From Fox News: Federal and local law enforcement officers arrested 14 suspected leaders of the Rancho San Pedro gang Tuesday in Los Angeles, capping a yearslong investigation into what the FBI called one of the most violent street crews in Southern California and a known arm of the Mexican Mafia.
FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital the bust marks a turning point in the fight against cartel-linked gangs.
“The era of cartels operating freely in America is over,” Patel said. “Every day, the FBI and our partners are dismantling violent networks at the source, stripping their resources, taking criminals off the streets and saving American lives.”
The FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office said agents executed 16 search warrants across San Pedro and nearby communities with help from the LAPD, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the California Department of Justice.
The following details were shared in an FBI press release:
The Rancho San Pedro Enterprise is a multi-generational gang with a current estimated membership of approximately 500 individuals who are divided into approximately six subsets or “cliques,” including two female cliques. RSP originated in the 1970s and claims the city of San Pedro as its territory. RSP operates under the control of Mexican Mafia members who are incarcerated in California state prisons, and RSP members make payments known as “taxes” to the Mexican Mafia in return for their protection. Gang members who violate RSP or Mexican Mafia rules are subject to “discipline” in the form of assault. Serious violations, including cooperation with law enforcement, may result in death, according to the complaint.
The targets of the RICO conspiracy and others participated in the RSP Enterprise in a variety of ways. Some would issue orders from prison on behalf of the Mexican Mafia. These orders include the collection of taxes, drug distribution, firearms transfers, and decisions about who held what positions within the RSP.
Others committed or conspired to commit acts of violence to preserve and expand RSP’s criminal operations, as well as to enhance their own status within the gang. Others engaged in drug trafficking, robbery, and extortion to generate revenue for the enterprise or would illegally maintain firearms and ammunition. Still others would possess, use, and carry firearms—or direct others to—in order to commit and threaten acts of violence, including conspiracies to commit murder and assault.
In a post on X, FBI Los Angeles announced: “Agents and police with the FBI, HSI, LAPD and Torrance PD, including multiple S.W.A.T. Teams, were up early today serving dozens of arrest and search warrants for members and associates of the violent Rancho San Pedro (RSP) street gang who were charged either federally or by the state of California with RICO and other violations involving narcotics and firearms. RSP is known to be responsible for various criminal activities and acts of violence in and around the Los Angeles Harbor area.”
Details about the arrest dubbed “Operation Wipe-Out”
https://t.co/jiSD5GaiJ5 pic.twitter.com/nO7iOqSFmz— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) October 7, 2025
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