8 SoCal arrests with alleged ties to Mexican Mafia

[Lucinda F. Boyd]

LOS ANGELES—Authorities say a drug bust has netted eight arrests of San Gabriel Valley gang members with alleged ties to the Mexican Mafia.

The U.S. attorney's office said the arrests on Tuesday stem from a 22-count federal racketeering and narcotics indictment naming 17 defendants.

Prosecutors say four of the defendants are eligible for the death penalty if convicted of the 2006 killing of a rival gang member. The remaining 13 face 20 years to life without parole.

The takedown focused on a La Puente street gang with approximately 600 members called Puente-13. Prosecutors say the number in the gang's name is a reference to the 13th letter of the alphabet, M, which indicates it is controlled by the Mexican Mafia...