LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Las Vegas police and District Attorney Steve Wolfson say the community is safer after the arrests of 29 alleged 18th Street gang members for a wide variety of crimes, including two homicides.
The more than 50 crimes around the Las Vegas valley over the past year and a half also include attempted murder, robbery, battery, assault, theft and drug trafficking and sales.
"We are a safer community today because of the efforts of this investigation," Wolfson said.
Police said the 29 arrests led to a "total dismantling" of the structure of the gang rather than just arresting a few leaders and included the arrests of the most violent and active offenders. While many of the gang members have been arrested, police said the investigation continues.
The arrests are part of a multi-agency case involving local, state and federal law enforcement.
"The mission of the joint operation was to dismantle and disrupt the gang's violent impact on the Las Vegas valley."
The arrests include: Juan Bustamante, Julio Berrios, Michael Troncoso, Juan Buendia, Jeffrey Pimental, Jessica Leavitt, Jonathan Martinez, Armando Bazua, Alfonso Ruiz, Joey Montoya, Shannon Alvarez-Castillo, Javier Lara, Roberto Ruiz, Denise Aquino, Nguyen Hooker, Hector Tenorio, Frank Rodriguez, Herbert Marquez, Daniel Zavala, Carlos Faudoa, Angelo Mejia, Juan Llamas, Anthony Hickman, Andrew Bobian, Danny Bueno, Henry Rios, Giovanny Garcia, Guillermina Lozano and Juan Perez.
Search warrants served in the course of the investigation resulted in numerous firearms taken off the street. Narcotics and money were also recovered.
