United States Federal authorities arrested 42 members and associates of the San Fernando Valley Peckerwoods, a California-based white supremacist gang, following a 76-count indictment unsealed on Wednesday. The gang, tied to the notorious Aryan Brotherhood, faces charges related to drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and fraud, including misuse of COVID-19 relief funds.
Attorney General Merrick Garland lauded the operation as a major strike against violent extremism. “The Justice Department has dealt a decisive blow to the SFV Peckerwoods, a violent white supremacist gang responsible for trafficking deadly fentanyl, committing robberies, and financial fraud,” said Garland. “With today’s arrests, we’ve targeted the heart of this gang’s operations.”
The indictment details years of illegal activity, including trafficking fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. The gang’s operations extended beyond drug-related crimes, with several members allegedly involved in identity theft and fraud schemes exploiting the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) meant for pandemic relief.
“The Peckerwoods’ violent white-supremacist ideology and wide-ranging criminal activity pose a grave menace to our community,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “Their alliance with neo-Nazi prison gangs amplifies the destructive force they pose.”
The gang reportedly maintained stash houses where large amounts of drugs were stored and distributed, with payments funneled through apps like Zelle and CashApp. The FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, which led the investigation, seized illegal firearms and substantial quantities of drugs.
“This operation disrupted a racially motivated violent extremist group that greatly impacted our way of life,” said FBI Assistant Director Akil Davis. “Today’s case strikes at the heart of our collective mission to rid our communities of the corrosive elements of extremism.”
Those charged face potential life sentences if convicted on the most severe counts, including conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and drug distribution. The defendants are expected to be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
The Justice Department’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, established in 2021, played a crucial role in identifying the gang’s fraudulent PPP and unemployment insurance schemes.
