Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, said the number of defendants charged in the case significantly exceeded the 102 defendants charged in a case against the Florencia 13 gang two years ago -- a case prosecutors then said was the biggest of its kind in the nation.
Reaction to Thursday's raids varied.
Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Michael Gomez praised authorities, saying "the city appreciates the help, both in resources and personnel that we have received in today's anti-gang operation.
"Honest residents should not have to live in fear of lawless thugs who act like its high noon at the OK Corral."
Barry Bruce, a community activist who took it upon himself to attend the news conference at which the arrests were announced, accused authorities of overstating the gang problem in Hawaiian Gardens and of mistreating residents he said were falsely labeled as gang members.
"There are serious violations of civil rights going on in the community," Bruce, who runs an urban outreach program called Way Out Ministries, told reporters. "The police are supposed to follow the law."
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scott.glover@latimes.com
richard.winton@latimes.com
