Michael Angel Alvarez, Body Armor Possession, California 2026
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
A convicted murderer and alleged 18th Street gang member, Michael Angel Alvarez, has been arrested in connection with the illegal possession of body armor near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles.
According to the FBI, Alvarez, 41, a.k.a. 'Diablo,' was detained by police officers responding to a call near the park on May 18. During the search of his vehicle, two body armor plates were found in the trunk.
The plates, which originated from Las Vegas, are described as the 'highest protection level available on the civilian market.'
Alvarez is charged with possession of body armor by a violent felon, a federal offense that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison if convicted.
The arrest comes as a shock to many, given Alvarez's role as a 'Peace Ambassador' for the City of Los Angeles. The program, which is funded by the city, aims to prevent violence and support those in crisis.
However, law enforcement believes Alvarez may still be involved in gang activity, based on jailhouse telephone calls in which he discussed assaulting individuals for breaking gang rules.
Alvarez has a long history of violence, with a 2002 conviction for first-degree murder and an April 2025 felony conviction for being a prisoner in possession of a weapon.
The city has agreed to appropriate $450,000 from its general fund between June 2024 and May 2027 to fund the Peace Ambassador program, which includes Healing Urban Barrios, the organization that employed Alvarez.
Alvarez was paid a total of $58,156 in 2025 for his work as a Peace Ambassador, despite his criminal history.
A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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