KINGS COUNTY, CA (KMJ) — A multi-agency operation targets the Nuestra Familia gang, accused of selling drugs from inside a state prison in Coalinga.
US Attorney McGregor Scott, speaking Wednesday at a press conference in Hanford, said nearly 100 people are connected to the gang.
It’s been flooding the streets of Kings and Tulare Counties with marijuana, cocaine, and meth.
They’ve been using contraband cell phones and operating out of the Pleasant Valley State Prison to sell drugs through their network to Kings, Kern Tulare and Fresno counties, according to FBI Special Agent Ryan Steger.
US Attorney Scott announced that 21 drug traffickers in prison were arrested on federal charges in Kings and Tulare counties.
1) SALVADOR CASTRO, JR., 49, of Pleasant Valley State Prison
2) RAYMOND LOPEZ, 31, of Pleasant Valley State Prison
3) JESSE JUAREZ, 28, of Visalia
4) DANIEL JUAREZ, 27, of Visalia
5) MICHAEL ROCHA, 36, of Visalia
6) ANGEL MONTES, 23, of Visalia
7) RAFAEL LOPEZ, 28, of Visalia
8) MANUEL BARRERA, 24, of Kettleman City
9) MANUEL GARCIA, 33, of Armona
10) JOANN BERNAL, 32, of Armona
11) RAMON AMADOR, 29, of Riverdale
12) RAUL LOPEZ, JR., 48, of Visalia
13) DONAVEN ADKINS, 41, of Hanford
14) RYAN GINES, 39, of Armona
15) DOUG GINES, 48, of Hanford
16) FLORENTINO GUTIERREZ, 37, of Hanford
17) JESUS NUNEZ, 19, of McFarland
18) MARIA NUNEZ, 22, of McFarland
19) LOUIS MOLINA, 48, of Hanford
20) ERNESTO ZIBRAY, 30, of Delano
21) TIFFANY FELLER, 31, of Riverdale.
Federal court documents unsealed Monday charged the defendants at Pleasant Valley with conspiracy to sell and possess drugs.
“This is the second time in recent weeks that a notorious California prison-based violent gang with senior leadership has faced federal charges,” said US Attorney McGregor Scott, referring to the recent crackdown on rival prison gang, the Aryan Brotherhood, two weeks ago.
US Attorney Scott says law agencies are working together to make the Valley safer for families.
Authorities found inmates were connected to a home invasion robbery that ended in a shooting of a suspect, and another deputy-involved shooting in Corcoran.
On Tuesday morning, three department of justice officers and a Kings County deputy all opened fire, shooting two home invasion suspects, pulled over on a traffic stop.
One suspect was left in critical condition, the other with non-life threatening injuries.
Over several days, the task force arrested 96 people on charges including association with murder, extortion, drug sales, firearms possession, and robbery.
Authorities seized 74 firearms, 14 fully automatic, and 11 pounds of meth.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
