“Sporty” & “Fatboy” Lead 18th Street Gang Drug & Gun Bust

LOS ANGELES – Ten members and associates of the notorious 18th Street gang are off the streets after a coordinated federal takedown targeting their narcotics and weapons trafficking, authorities announced Wednesday. The sweep, a multi-agency effort led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), represents a significant blow to the gang’s operations in Southern California and beyond.

The operation, which began Tuesday evening and stretched into Wednesday, saw agents from HSI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Los Angeles Police Department converging on multiple locations. Arrests weren’t confined to the City of Angels, however. One defendant was apprehended in Honolulu, Hawaii, and another in Indianapolis, Indiana, highlighting the gang’s reach. Three additional suspects were already in custody on unrelated federal charges, while a manhunt continues for five remaining defendants.

The investigation, initiated way back in December 2014, focused squarely on the distribution and sale of methamphetamine and the illegal trafficking of firearms. The results speak for themselves: approximately four kilograms of meth and 14 firearms – including five assault rifles – were seized. Six federal indictments have been filed, naming a total of 18 defendants implicated in the conspiracy. This isn’t just about street-level dealing; it’s a sophisticated network fueled by hard drugs and readily available weaponry.

Among those cuffed yesterday are Giovanny Ochoa, also known as “Sporty” and “Speedy,” 26, of Hawthorne, and Aveline Villalba, also known as “Gordo” and “Fatboy,” 36, of South Los Angeles. Both men are accused of selling approximately one-quarter pound of methamphetamine to an undercover operative in the fall of 2016. Ochoa faces additional charges related to another quarter-pound sale and transactions involving one-ounce quantities of the drug. If convicted of conspiracy and narcotics-distribution charges, both Ochoa and Villalba could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, with the potential for life behind bars.

Ochoa, Villalba, and the six other defendants arrested in the Los Angeles area made their initial court appearances in United States District Court Wednesday. All eight entered pleas of not guilty and were promptly ordered held without bond, pending trial. The two defendants arrested in Honolulu and Indianapolis have also been denied bail and are expected to be extradited to Los Angeles in the coming weeks to face the music. This is a clear message: no matter where you run, federal law enforcement will find you.

The prosecution of these cases falls to Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Mausner, Jennifer Weinhold, and Damaris M. Diaz, alongside Special Assistant United States Attorney Stacey Fernandez, all of the General Crimes Section. This case underscores the ongoing battle against gang violence and the relentless pursuit of those who profit from the misery of others. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, bringing you the unvarnished truth from the streets and the courtrooms.