Updated: Eight Suspected Gang Members Arrested on Federal Drug Charges Friday

Eight people that federal officials say either belong to or are associated with the Pasadena Denver Lanes gang were arrested Friday on federal drug trafficking charges as part of an 18-month investigation into the gang.

The investigation was carried out by the FBI's San Gabriel Valley Safe Streets Task Force and named nine defendants as suspects in massive drug trafficking.  During the 18 month investigation, the task force has seized eight guns, $40,000 in cash, five kilograms of cocaine and approximately 2½ kilograms of crack cocaine, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

In the course of arresting the eight federal suspects on Friday, the task force also arrested seven other suspects who were on scene during the arrest - they will be charged under California state law, according to the release.

The Pasadena Denver Lanes, as the name suggests, is based in Pasadena and a subset of the Bloods gang.  The gang also has members in Altadena, and Sheriff's Department officials have attributed some of the shootings that have taken place in town to a conflict between the PDL and the Altadena Block Crips.  

Eight of the nine defendants who have been named in a federal indictment were arrested on Friday, while one remains a fugitive. One of the nine is an Altadena resident.  Below are the nine who were named in the indictment:

• Jesse Vargas, 34, of El Monte;
• Jesus Campos, 43, of La Puente;
• Monte Russell, also known as “Godfather,” 35, of Pomona and Pasadena;
• Cuong Nguyen, also known as “David Thai,” 32, of Mid-City Los Angeles, who authorities are continuing to search for;
• Dayna Guyton, 29, of Pasadena;
• Myoshi Smith, 23,  of Bellflower; and
• Lyonel Washington, also known as “Dough,” 33, of Altadena.
• Keno Monteze Norris, 33, of Pasadena, who is charged in an indictment with distributing crack cocaine; and
• John Eugene Brown, 48, of Pasadena, who is charged in a criminal complaint with possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine.

According to the release, the suspects could face life sentences if convicted of the charges.  They are scheduled to make appearances in federal court in downtown Los Angeles on Friday afternoon.

Thom Mrozek of the U.S. Attorney's Office provided this list of the seven who were arrested under California state law:

• Christopher Thomas, 35, of Altadena
• Larry Fuller, 44, of Pasadena    
• Lorenzo Howse, 37, of Altadena
• Corey Kennedy, 37, of Pasadena
• Anthony McClain, 23, of Pasadena
• Devid Taylor, 60, of Pasadena
• Jehoshua Kindred, 39, of Pasadena

The San Gabriel Valley Safe Streets task force contains officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pasadena Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (Altadena gang detectives and the Community Oriented Policing Services Bureau), the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to the release.

Below are links to stories involving local crimes that Altadena station officials have attributed to PDL gang members:

Update: Department volunteer Carolyn Seitz sent out the following emaii from Capt. John Benedict of the Altadena Sheriff's Station about the raid:

At 6:00 am this morning the Altadena Sheriff’s Station, Pasadena Police Department, Federal Drug Enforcement Administration, and the FBI conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of nineteen suspects who will face federal narcotics trafficking charges and various other state charges.  Several of those arrested are members of the Pasadena Denver Lane Blood Gang.  Most of the defendants will face potential life sentences if they are convicted.  Today’s arrests demonstrate that law enforcement is committed to working together with its state and local law enforcement partners to protect our community from the menace of the illegal narcotics trade and criminal activity in our community.  It is my hope that this event will subside the recent assaults that have plagued our community over the last two months.