ARRESTS MADE IN CONNECTION WITH FEDERAL NARCOTICS AND WEAPONS CHARGES AGAINST THIRTEEN ASSOCIATES OF THE CRENSHAW MAFIA GANG Arrests warrants were served today in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties on several alleged associates of the Crenshaw Mafia Gangster Bloods street gang who were charged federally in connection with illegal narcotics conspiracies and weapons violations, announced Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles.   The defendants, six of whom were arrested today by agents of the FBI and their partners on the Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Crime, are alleged members and associates of the Crenshaw Mafia Gangster Bloods street gang.   The Crenshaw Mafia has its roots in Inglewood, California, and is believed to have existed since the early 1990s.  Since then, members of the Crenshaw Mafia have moved to other large cities across the country, including Cleveland, Denver, Omaha, and St. Louis, and have established affiliated Crenshaw Mafia gangs in those areas.  According to the indictments, returned in September and October of 2007 by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles, the defendants allegedly engaged in conspiracies to distribute illegal narcotics including heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine base; conspiracies to possess with intent to distribute illegal narcotics, and various weapons-related charges.  Those arrested today are: Joseph Carter, Jr., 42, of Wilmington, California.   David Cole, Jr., 64, of Long Beach, California Debra Ann Johnson, 49, of La Mirada, California Kenneth Bernard Riley, 45, of Moreno Valley, California Gerald Plaze Thomas, 43, of Los Angeles, California Anthony Quin Wheeler, 47, of Inglewood, California Agents learned this morning that three of the defendants, all brothers, recently traveled to Indianapolis.  Investigators in Los Angeles are coordinating with the FBI in Indianapolis to locate and arrest the following defendants: Anthony Dewayne  Twyman, 46, of  Long Beach, California Charles Leroy Twyman, 48, of Ontario, California Michael Lynn Twyman, 45, of  Los Angeles, California The following two subjects are fugitives and are being sought by the FBI. James Lanzo Turner, IV, 63, of West Hills, California Lashawn Andrea Lynch, 26, of California             The remaining two defendants charged were not fully identified at the time of the indictment and were listed on the indictment with the moniker associated with the alleged criminal activity.   Further investigation is ongoing to fully identify and apprehend these two individuals. This case began with an investigation into the criminal activity of defendant Kenneth Bernard Riley, a reputed leader of the Crenshaw Mafia.  The indictments allege that Riley, also known as “Kenny Boy,” was actively involved in supplying cocaine, cocaine base, and methamphetamine to multiple drug customers in Los Angeles and Riverside Counties.  In addition, Riley was allegedly actively involved in the commission of violent crimes and the procurement and storage of weapons on behalf of the Crenshaw Mafia.    During the investigation, numerous drug trafficking and gang associates were identified including Riley’s alleged drug supplier, Charles Leroy Twyman, aka “Lee.” Investigative efforts thus far have resulted in several drug seizures and the discovery of evidence related to the sale of cocaine, cocaine base, methamphetamine, and other drug trafficking conspiracies.   Search warrants were executed in connection with this investigation at sixteen locations and of five vehicles. These searches led to the seizure of approximately $375,000, five handguns, two shotguns and illegal narcotics, including cocaine and marijuana. Those arrested today will be afforded an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Today’s operation is the result of a joint investigation by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Crime in Los Angeles, a FBI Safe Streets Task Force.  Multiple agencies assisted in today’s operation, including the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Probation Department, the Long Beach Police Department, the Ontario Police Department, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, the San Bernardino County Probation Department, the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office, and the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Department. ###  MEDIA CONTACT: FBI:  Laura Eimiller:  310 996-3343 or U.S. Attorney’s Office:  Thom Mrozek:  213 894-6947