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The massive multi-agency “Operation Broken Bonds” produced 34 gang-related arrests and the seizure of 64 firearms and nearly 9 pounds of meth, fentanyl, and cocaine, authorities said Friday.
On Thursday, nearly 550 federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel executed 54 search warrants in Parlier, Reedley, Del Rey, Dinuba, and Clovis.
The 100-day undercover investigation focused on criminal activity by the Nuestra Familia prison gang and the Norteño criminal street gang in Fresno County.
In a news release, the state Department of Justice said that the sweep zeroed in on the Varrio Colonia Parlier Norteños criminal street gang, “who are alleged to be responsible for an increase in violence, including homicides, and illegal firearms in the Fresno area, specifically the cities of Reedley and Parlier.”
The state DOJ also said the group is accused of making threats to local law enforcement, including a 2022 arson against a Parlier Police Department vehicle.
Among those arrested was Francisco Munoz Jr., 26, who was charged with murder by the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office in the killing of Silvano Mendoza, 52, in June 2021.
“Mendoza was a field worker on his way to his job with other co-workers. He was in a car, pulling up to a home on the 13000 block of 9th Street in Parlier when he was shot,” Fresno County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tony Botti said in a news release.
ABC30 reported earlier this month that Mendoza had five children and 10 grandchildren. Normally, he didn’t work on Sundays, but he decided to head to the fields to earn extra money the day he was gunned down, family members said.
“Detectives believe some of the people arrested are responsible for other unsolved murders in Parlier. They are working with prosecutors to finalize these investigations and are confident charges will be filed against the suspects in the coming weeks,” Botti said.
Said state Attorney General Rob Bonta: “Today’s announcement is a result of strong partnerships by law enforcement agencies in the Fresno area, and throughout our state, to address violence and criminal enterprises. … I want to thank the work of our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for their collaboration in making Fresno County a safer place. Protecting public safety is our highest priority and we won’t rest until the job is done.”
Related Story: Detectives Release Video That Could Help Solve Parlier Homicide
Operation Broken Bonds focused on criminal activity by the Nuestra Familia prison gang and the Norteño criminal street gang in Fresno County. (Fresno County SO)
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the filing of federal charges Friday against more than a dozen men arrested in the operation. Several of them are charged with conspiring to commit murder and attempted murder. The federal defendants and their charges:
The men and women pictured above, as well as others not pictured, were arrested on Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Fresno County SO)
The following agencies participated in Operation Broken Bonds:
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email