News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2007

Members of Campanella Park Piru Bloods and Black Mafia Family Charged with Drug Trafficking Conspiracy as Part of Operation Crimson Vex – Arrests In Los Angeles, Missouri and Georgia

NOV 7 -- Federal agents and over 200 law enforcement officers executed multiple search and arrest warrants in Los Angeles, Missouri and Georgia, in connection with Operation “Crimson Vex,” an investigation into an illegal drug trafficking conspiracy, announced Peter Brust, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, Thomas P. O’Brien, United States Attorney for Los Angeles and Timothy Landrum, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Los Angeles. 

On November 1, 2007, a federal grand jury in Los Angeles returned an indictment charging 20 defendants who are alleged members and associates of the Campanella Park Piru Blood street gang or the Black Mafia Family (known as “BMF”) for participating in a multi-state conspiracy to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and phencyclidine (PCP).  BMF is believed to have originated in Michigan in the early 1990s but has since branched out to other states and both coasts.  

According to the indictments, members and associates of the Campanella Park Piru Bloods trafficked in kilogram quantities of cocaine in the Campanella Park area of Compton, California.   The Campanella Park Piru Bloods allegedly supplied BMF members who, in turn, would transport cocaine, heroin and PCP from Los Angeles, hidden in the secret compartments of trucks for distribution to areas including St. Louis, Missouri and Atlanta, Georgia, according to the indictments.   

The following defendants, who were charged with varying federal narcotics violations that contributed to the overall drug distribution conspiracy, were arrested this morning in Los Angeles:

Letitia Camille Anderson, 41, of Compton, California
 
Reginald Stewart, 38, of Compton, California

Tracy Prince, 39, of Los Angeles, California

Bernard Beard, 37, of Long Beach, California

Adan Cardenas- Estrella, 23, of Los Angeles, California

Ralph Simms, 40, of Lakewood, California

Arja L. Brown Langdon, 32, of Carson, California

The following individuals were arrested in Missouri and Georgia. 

Roy W. Burris Jr., 27, of Hawaiian Gardens, California, was arrested in St. Louis

Oscar Dillon, 34, arrested in Atlanta, GA.

Ameen R. Hight, 31, arrested in Atlanta, GA.

Jeremy Steel , 28, was arrested in St. Louis

Robert Lewis, 29, was arrested in St. Louis. 
       
Michael Dejuan West, 31, of Compton, is currently in custody on unrelated charges.

Kenyan Terrance Payne, 39, of Compton, California, is negotiating with law enforcement to surrender in Los Angeles.

Martez Byrth, 34, is negotiating with law enforcement to surrender in St. Louis.

Defendant Dave E. Walker, 26, is being prosecuted on unrelated charges and will be prosecuted for these charges when that matter is adjudicated. 

Two additional individuals were listed in the indictment as unidentified defendants (FNU, LNU).  One was identified as Drevon Brown and was arrested in Los Angeles today.  The second is still under investigation. 

Daniel Corral, 33, of Culver City, and Demond Lee, 29, of St. Louis, are currently fugitives and are being sought by law enforcement. 

All of the defendants arrested will be afforded an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in jurisdictions in which they were arrested. 

Federal search warrants were executed at 16 locations in California, including in Los Angeles, Compton, Carson and Long Beach.  Five search warrants were served in areas of St. Louis, Missouri and Atlanta, Georgia. 

During today’s searches in California, Missouri and Georgia, law enforcement seized approximately $100,000 in U.S. currency, approximately twenty firearms - including assault pistols and sawed-off shot-guns; quantities of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, as well as a yacht, a motor home and seven vehicles.

Prior to today’s law enforcement actions, several search warrants were executed in connection with this investigation.  In addition to over $1 million in seizable assets that have been identified throughout the investigation, the following has been seized in connection with this case:

  • Approximately 6 kilograms of cocaine, 1/4 kilogram of crack-cocaine, 80 pounds of marijuana, and gram quantities of methamphetamine.
  • Approximately $860,000 United States Currency (USC).
  • Approximately 8 firearms.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.