FRESNO, CA (KMJ) A massive gang bust dubbed “Operation Shock Collar” was announced Friday in Fresno.
Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni said “There were a lot of sleepless nights…. We solved a homicide from 2017. We do not forget those victims. It’s a true testament to bringing justice to these families.”
“Every time, whoever the lead agency is, the effectiveness is off the charts”. Zanoni then warned other gang members “you’re next”.
In total, 89 individuals are being charged.
In the news conference Zanoni railed against California closing prisons and several laws he said are weakening law enforcement’s ability to keep gang members and other criminals behind bars.
FBI Special Agent in charge Sid Patel (pictured below) said the investigation is the culmination of “months of diligent teamwork to target violent crime in the Central Valley”.
The local Bulldog criminal street gang was a central focus of the investigation. Patel said the gang members had “zero regard for human life”.
Gang operations in the towns of Coalinga and Huron were also targeted.
Fresno County DA Lisa Smittcamp (pictured below) said “We have 11 in custody with conspiracy to commit murder and the suspect in the 2017 homicide” (which Sheriff Zanoni announced earlier).
“Gang activity is familial. More gangs are involving juveniles because the state legislature has made it more difficult to prosecute. These young people are learning to terrorize communities. Our hands are tied by these restrictive laws”, Smittcamp continued.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta (pictured below) congratulated the special investigation unit and all of the law enforcement agencies who participated. Bonta credited them with stopping murders, human trafficking and gun running.
Sheriff Zanoni later said “This investigation began months ago. We had all hands on deck to figure out the next steps of these gang members”.
These were the “worst of the worst” bad actors in your community Patel went on to say.
Over 550 local, state and federal officers participated in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert L. Veneman-Hughes, Luke Baty, and Antonio Pataca are prosecuting the case.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi‑agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This operation is part of Summer Heat, the FBI’s nationwide initiative targeting violent crime during the summer months.
