Major Crackdown on Neo-Nazi Gang: 42 San Fernando Valley Peckerwoods Arrested

On October 2, authorities arrested 42 alleged members and associates of the San Fernando Valley Peckerwoods in what officials described as one of the largest crackdowns on a neo-Nazi white supremacist gang in Department of Justice history.

Local and federal officers, including the Joint Terrorism Task Force, executed 29 arrest warrants and conducted several searches in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas. The arrests followed the unsealing of a 76-count federal indictment charging 68 individuals connected to the gang.

At a press conference, officials said they are still searching for 26 suspects classified as fugitives. FBI Los Angeles Field Office Assistant Director Akil Davis emphasized the significance of the operation, stating that it would significantly cripple the extremist group. This is a historic event to federally indict this many members of a hate group, Davis said.

The San Fernando Valley Peckerwoods, a mix of street, prison, and racist skinhead gangs, is known for its white supremacist ideology. The Anti-Defamation League describes the group as involved in extensive criminal activity, such as drug trafficking.

The indictment highlights 60 charges involving Peckerwoods members and associates caught with large quantities of drugs. Gang members are also accused of financial crimes, including fraud, with allegations they exploited the Paycheck Protection Program designed to help businesses affected by COVID-19.

U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California stated, The Peckerwoods engage in a wide variety of criminal activity, but what truly defines them is their hate and animus towards racial, ethnic, and religious minorities. The gang is notorious for displaying neo-Nazi symbols, such as swastikas and the Confederate flag.

Estrada referenced the April arrest of Ryan Bradford, an alleged gang member, who was found not only dealing drugs but also making explosive devices and firearms. Bradford’s collection of white supremacist paraphernalia, including replica Nazi uniforms and Hitler posters, raised additional alarm, particularly a planner where he had written his resolution to “bake every single Jew.

We can’t take those threats lightly, Estrada said, stressing the importance of neutralizing such dangers before they result in tragedy.

Davis noted the Peckerwoods’ connection to the Aryan Brotherhood, a notorious white supremacist prison gang. He described them as a chapter of the larger organization, underscoring their role in domestic extremism.

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