FBI investigates Orange County-based street gang, local authorities participating in search

Orange County authorities joined federal officers Wednesday morning in the investigation of a local street gang.

FBI spokesperson Rukelt Dalberis said in a statement that the Orange County Violent Gang Task Force and its partners executed 12 federal search warrants; one federal arrest warrant; one state arrest warrant; and probation compliance checks as part of the investigation. Several federal and local tactical teams participated.

This included the FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the IRS Criminal Investigation Department, the Criminal Investigation Task Force and the Orange County Probation Office in addition to the Santa Ana, Anaheim, Fullerton and Newport Beach police departments.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are also involved in the ongoing investigation.

Heather Rangel, a spokesperson for the Newport Beach Police Department, confirmed that officers from the agency’s SWAT team assisted with the operation but deferred further inquiries to the FBI.

“The affidavits supporting the search warrants have been sealed by a federal judge,” Dalberis said. “The United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the federal case and the Orange County district attorney is prosecuting the state charges.”

Further requests for details were declined by federal officials.

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