Categories: Santa Ana

Eleven Townsend Street gang members arrested in a multi agency sweep

In April of 2019 the FBI Orange County Violent Gang Task Force (OCVGTF) began an operation targeting the Townsend Street Gang. During this investigation, firearms and narcotics have been seized during controlled purchases and search warrants.

Several of the target subjects also have felony arrests and/or convictions for firearms offenses and other violent crimes including attempted murder and murder.

This operation included the controlled purchase of narcotics, surveillance, and search warrants. As a result, 11 subjects have been indicted by the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

The identified suspects include: Jairo Echeverria, 25; Jaime Garcia, 28; Fernando Cuevas; Alexis Lara, 24; Giovanni Marcial, 27; Ricardo Solorio, 19; Omar Valencia Montes, 23; Jordan Castaneda, 21; Carlos Daniel Godinez Sanchez, 19; Alexander Laur, 24; Fernando Guerrero, 35; and Edgar Calvo, 26.

Several of the people arrested Thursday had prior convictions and felony arrests including for attempted murder and murder and two were in violation of their probation, according to KTLA.

Five guns, including an assault rifle, a bulletproof vest, 3 pounds of drugs and $16,000 in cash were seized during the investigation, according to the SAPD.

The Townsend Street gang is a multi-generational extremely violent gang that has been around since the 1980s and currently has about 112 documented members who are active from Raitt Street to Jerome Park and from McFadden Avenue to Wilshire Avenue, according to the O.C. Register.

Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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  • Whoever gave this guy the hoods n,s,e,w territory is on point. People are willing to die for those streets mentioned above. Until we find out how to fix that , the. We will change the world.

  • Great job SAPD, Now do the same to the other 30 active gangs in Santa Ana.
    Make sure the playing field is even.

    • Playing field ? You mean the streets where kids wanna play at ? Thoughts like yours is what’s part of the problem but go head though express your thoughts.

      • I don't think you understood my comment. Look up what "level the playing field" means. What I am saying is that if SAPD only goes after few specific gangs; It gives an advantage to the other gangs. Other gangs will flourish, because SAPD is only targeting a selective few.
        I have life in Santa Ana for 20 years and also hold a bachelors in criminal justice.
        -Omar

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