California officials announce takedown of Aryan Brotherhood’s leadership

LOS ANGELES » California authorities said Friday they have dismantled the senior leadership of the white supremacist Aryan Brotherhood as part of a statewide takedown of the notorious prison gang and its associates in the Fresnecks street gang in Fresno County.

The investigation — dubbed “Operation Lucky Charm” because the Aryan Brotherhood’s symbols include a shamrock — includes federal and state charges for more than 100 defendants in California, Nevada and Montana. Half of the suspects were arrested Thursday and others remain at large.

Authorities in a news conference Friday said they were able to foil 11 violent crimes, including murder and robbery, in part through wiretaps. The Fresnecks worked on the streets under the direction of the Aryan Brotherhood through contraband cellphones in state prisons.

“We got up on their phones and we listened to the crimes being ordered and carried out in realtime,” said McGregor Scott, U. S. attorney for the Eastern District of California.

Authorities have also seized 47 firearms, 89 pounds of methamphetamine, 5.75 pounds of heroin and $136,156 in cash throughout the investigation, which began federally in August 2019.