More than 100 white supremacist gang members were arrested in the culmination of an 11-month long investigation dubbed “Operation Lucky Charm.”
According to Vice, the investigation, named after the shamrock symbol often associated with the prison gang Aryan Brotherhood, and was spread out over four states and the California prison system. The “Fresnecks” gang members are accused of working with incarcerated Aryan Brotherhood members to commit violent crimes, kidnappings, and of trafficking drugs and firearms.
On Thursday, 39 search warrants were executed by multiple state and federal agencies across California, Montana, and Nevada. Accord to the Fresno Sheriff’s office, a total of 47 firearms were seized, along with 90 pounds of meth, almost six pounds of heroin, and $136,000 in cash.
The sheriff’s department said a vital element of the operation was the inmates’ ability to obtain cellphones. The use of cell phones allowed incarcerated leaders to give directions to members outside the prisons to sell guns, drugs, and commit other violent crimes.
A total of 102 people were arrested during the operation. All of the people arrested are now facing state and federal charges.
