California Department of Justice’s High Impact Investigation Team assisted in operation
“When local, state and federal law enforcement officers team up to conduct operations such as this, the result is the removal of dangerous suspects and their weapons from our neighborhoods. These law enforcement officers put the public’s safety before their own in serving search warrants and arresting people facing charges such as homicide, drug and human trafficking and weapons violations.”
– CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
FRESNO — On May 17, 2024, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in announcing the arrests of 32 suspects as well as the seizure of 57 illegal weapons, and illicit drugs as part of a multiagency operation targeting an organized criminal group in Fresno County.
Operation “Gridlock” began in October 2023, and targeted criminal street gangs who are alleged to be responsible for an increase in violence, including homicides, human trafficking, and illegal firearms in the Fresno area. The effort resulted in 48 search warrants and 32 arrest warrants
The investigation was led by the Fresno County Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC) task force with collaboration from Fresno Police Department, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, California Department of Justice’s High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), California Highway Patrol, Clovis Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations.
“Violence in our communities will not be tolerated; the California Department of Justice is zeroed-in on our mission of ensuring safe communities,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today’s announcement stems from the strong collaboration among law enforcement agencies in Fresno and across our state, aimed at tackling violence and criminal organizations. I am grateful for the efforts of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for their united front in enhancing the safety of Fresno County. Ensuring the well-being of the public remains our utmost concern, and we will not back down until justice is served.”
As part of the operation, the agencies seized 57 firearms, including ghost guns, AR-style rifles and semi-automatic handguns, extended magazines, ammunition, and body armor, illicit drugs including, methamphetamine, and approximately $30,000 in currency.
As both state and federal search warrants and arrests warrants were issued as part of the operation, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California will be prosecuting the case. The suspects face charges ranging from homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide, human trafficking, home invasion, armed robbery, carjacking, burglary, illegal weapons possession, narcotics sales, transportation of narcotics, extortion, and auto theft.
