The unsealed indictment names a total of 68 defendants facing a litany of federal charges, such as conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, distribution of controlled substances, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and illegal possession of firearms.
Source: FoxLA
In a significant operation today, federal and local law enforcement agencies arrested 42 individuals tied to the SFV Peckerwoods, a notorious white supremacist street gang based in the San Fernando Valley, California. The arrests stem from a sweeping 76-count federal grand jury indictment that alleges years of criminal activity, including drug trafficking—specifically fentanyl—illegal firearms possession, and COVID-19 benefit fraud.
“The Justice Department has dealt a decisive blow to the San Fernando Valley (SFV) Peckerwoods, a violent white supremacist gang that we charge is responsible for trafficking deadly fentanyl and other drugs, committing robberies, and perpetrating financial fraud to fund both their criminal enterprise and that of the Aryan Brotherhood,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “With today’s charges and arrests, the Justice Department, together with our state, local, and federal partners has targeted the heart of this gang’s operations, and we will continue to zero in on the criminal enterprises that endanger our communities.”
The unsealed indictment names a total of 68 defendants facing a litany of federal charges, such as conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, distribution of controlled substances, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and illegal possession of firearms.
Those arrested are scheduled for arraignment this afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
“The Peckerwoods’ violent white-supremacist ideology and wide-ranging criminal activity pose a grave menace to our community,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “By allegedly engaging in everything from drug-trafficking to firearms offenses to identity theft to COVID fraud, and through their alliance with a neo-Nazi prison gang, the Peckerwoods are a destructive force. In prosecuting the members of the Peckerwoods criminal organization, our office is carrying out its mission to protect the public from the most dangerous threats.”
“This operation, led by our Joint Terrorism Task Force, disrupted a racially motivated violent extremist group who engaged in a wide range of criminal activity,” said Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “This case strikes at the heart of our collective mission to rid our communities of the corrosive elements that fuel violence and extremism that greatly impact our way of life. The FBI, along with our federal, state, and local partners, remains strongly committed to working every day to make sure the people of the Southland remain safe.”
Authorities reported seizing substantial amounts of illegal firearms along with dozens of pounds of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin during the investigation. The Peckerwoods gang, characterized by its violent white supremacist ideology, often collaborates with the Aryan Brotherhood and maintains connections with the Mexican Mafia, a powerful force in California’s street gang scene. Members frequently display Nazi tattoos and symbols, such as swastikas and the number "88," which is a coded reference to Hitler.
In April 2021, Gluckman submitted an application that falsely stated he was a self-employed “artist/writer” with a gross income of nearly $250,000. Later that month, he obtained a PPP loan in the amount of $20,833. In a separate scheme, Gluckman submitted fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) applications in the names of other people to the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to fraudulently obtain jobless benefits.
The gang reportedly utilized social media platforms, including a private Facebook group, to coordinate criminal activities and enforce gang rules. They shared information about their operations and identified members who were in good standing or had violated gang protocols.
Since at least December 2016, Peckerwoods members have employed violence and intimidation to expand their criminal enterprise, contributing to a pervasive atmosphere of fear in their communities. Their operations included the trafficking of dangerous narcotics, with lead defendant Claire Patricia Haviland, 62, and her co-defendants allegedly overseeing drug stash houses for significant quantities of fentanyl and other drugs. They are accused of mailing drugs to customers and using apps like Zelle and CashApp for transactions.
“The San Fernando Valley Peckerwoods, the Aryan Brotherhood, and their associates are fused by one thing: hatred,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Allen of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Los Angeles Field Division. “It appears, however, that the business of hate was not enough for them. Driven by greed, they engaged in other crimes, including drug distribution, pushing out deadly fentanyl onto our streets. Operating from corners of the San Fernando Valley, they conducted their crimes within and beyond the 8-1-8 community. Today’s large-scale indictments and arrests reflect our relentless commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that continue to harm our communities.”
Additionally, the gang engaged in financial fraud and identity theft, including submitting fraudulent applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several defendants allegedly posed as sole proprietors to secure loans meant for struggling businesses, often signing applications for individuals incarcerated in California prisons.
“The proliferation of gang related organized crime deteriorates the core of our society,” said Chief Dominic Choi of the Los Angeles Police Department. “Taking guns out of the hands of gang members and drugs from our streets is just one more step towards reducing this deterioration. Today is yet another example of how local, regional, and federal law enforcement, with a matched dedication, are working together to investigate, apprehend and prosecute criminals.”
“When criminal organizations cross jurisdictional lines, it makes conducting investigations and subsequent prosecutions much more difficult,” said Sheriff Jim Fryhoff of the Ventura County, California, Sheriff’s Office. “Having our federal law enforcement partners involvement in such cases greatly enhances our ability to protect not only the citizens of our county, but also those of our region of the state.”
If convicted, the defendants could face severe penalties, including potential life sentences. This operation marks a significant blow to the criminal activities of the SFV Peckerwoods and aims to disrupt their ongoing illicit operations.
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