Raids Target the Mexican Mafia in O.C.

Officers arrested 24 people, including Peter Ojeda, 63, a La Habra resident identified as the ranking Mexican Mafia soldier in Orange County. Ojeda controlled the drug trade of local Latino street gangs, using violence and strong-arm tactics to keep underlings in line, authorities said.

Known as "The Big Homie" and "The Senor," Ojeda is believed to have run a criminal organization for about 30 years. But the crimes attributed to the defendants allegedly occurred this year and in 2004, said Richard Garcia, assistant FBI director in Los Angeles.

Ojeda and the others were charged under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. United States Atty. Debra W. Yang, who appeared with Garcia and others at a news conference at the Santa Ana Police Department on Wednesday, said the case marked the first time that defendants were charged under RICO in Orange County.

The federal law is commonly used by prosecutors to go after organized crime figures. The Mexican Mafia is a powerful prison gang that authorities say controls drug distribution and other illegal activities in Latino communities in Southern California.

Twelve other defendants in custody on unrelated charges also were charged in a three-count indictment unsealed Wednesday. The racketeering charges include allegations of drug trafficking, extortion, assault and murder. The defendants face 20 years to life in prison if convicted.

In addition to dismantling the so-called Ojeda Organization, authorities also arrested members of the Santa Ana-based West Myrtle Street Gang, including the man identified as the group's leader, Octavio Valenzuela, 30, of Costa Mesa. Authorities labeled both groups criminal enterprises Wednesday.

The investigation was spearheaded by the Santa Ana Police Department's Gang Task Force and Career Criminal Unit. This was the second major gang investigation by Santa Ana police in five years. In 2000, officers said they broke up the Santa Nita and other rival gangs during Operation Orion, which resulted in more than 100 convictions of street drug dealers and career criminals.