La Nuestra Familia Leaders Face Down in Massive Cocaine, Meth, and Gun Bust

Yakima, Washington – In a massive blow to the violent prison gang La Nuestra Familia, 34 individuals from across the United States have been indicted on charges of criminal conspiracy involving illegal drugs, firearms, money laundering, cockfighting, and attempts to kill witnesses.

The arrests follow a long-term joint federal and state investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, which uncovered a continuing criminal enterprise that spanned multiple jurisdictions and included possession and distribution of illegal drugs, cockfighting, possession of illegal firearms, and attempts to kill those who assisted law enforcement in the investigation.

The conspiracy indictment alleges Robert Patrick Hanrahan, Rigoberto Escobedo Gonzalez, Travis Michael McGuire, and Jose Alfredo Chavez Arredondo acted as supervisors to dozens of individuals engaged in the criminal enterprise, which included possession and distribution of illegal drugs, cockfighting, possession of illegal firearms, and attempts to kill those who assisted law enforcement.

According to unsealed charging documents, the following individuals have been charged in connection with the ATF’s joint investigation:

• Fabian Arredondo, 34, of [city], charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances and Conspiracy to Launder Money.
• Joanna Arredondo, 34, of [city], charged with Conspiracy to Launder Money.
• Jose Alfredo Chavez Arredondo, 43, of [city], charged with Continuing Criminal Enterprise.

During the operation, agents seized approximately 37 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, pound quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as more than 8,000 fentanyl-laced pills. The law enforcement team also seized more than $20,000 in U.S. currency and hundreds of roosters from locations in Zillah and Outlook, Washington, which were allegedly used in cockfights.

U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref praised the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies, stating, “I am grateful for the coordinated efforts of so many law enforcement agencies, who simultaneously executed more than twenty search warrants in the Yakima area and across the United States earlier today. More than 350 federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement came together to coordinate the takedown of this alleged drug trafficking operation.”

The defendants are expected to face significant prison time if convicted of the charges, with some facing up to life in prison. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are expected to be brought against other individuals identified during the execution of search warrants.

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