Mexican Mafia Conspiracy

The Ventura County Sheriff says the Mexican Mafia has been forcing rival gangs to commit crimes together for the benefit of the notorious prison gang. With the help of wiretapping, the Ventura County Gang Task Force and multiple law enforcement agencies were able to stop robberies and hits.

In the past few months Investigators say they uncovered conspiracies to commit assault, extortion, home invasion robberies, pharmaceutical robberies, narcotics trafficking and other crimes.

The case led the indictment of 21 men, four women and two 16-year-old boys. Six of the adults are fugitives. It is being called the largest criminal Grand Jury indictment in the history of Ventura County. Officers seized more than 30 weapons including assault rifles. They also confiscated 36-thousand dollars in cash, heroin and other drugs.

The man suspected of pulling the strings is Martin “Evil” Madrigal. Investigators say he is still outstanding. The main suspects are each being held on five-million dollars bail. If convicted of third strikes and dozens of other felonies they could face multiple life sentences.