Local Woman Among 9 Held in Firearms Trafficking

A Chatsworth resident was among nine people arrested Wednesday following a yearlong investigation into illegal firearms trafficking in the San Fernando Valley, according to authorities.

Claire Haviland, 49, of Chatsworth was arrested and charged in Los Angeles County for alleged state firearms and narcotics violations, according to Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) spokesman Chris Hoffman. The other eight suspects were arrested on federal charges, Hoffman told Patch.

The investigation, dubbed "Operation Woodchuck," was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the LAPD, said Hoffman.

Eight suspects, many of them from the Valley, were arrested on indictments in Los Angeles: Arthur Chorny, 41, of Studio City; David Abbott, 52, of Los Angeles; Anthony Campos, 37, of Canoga Park; Drew Darchuck, 42, of Northridge; Guillermo Navarrete, 35, of Northridge; Manuel Santo, 41, of Canoga Park; Guy Smith, 49, of Los Angeles; and Mehran Zamany, 46, of Woodland Hills. They were expected to be arraigned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

Three other men wanted on federal indictments remain at large: Elijah Brown, 38, of Los Angeles; Mitchell Knox, 22, of Studio City, and Hector Valles, 46, of Northridge.

According to City News Service, Hoffman said that an ATF agent infiltrated a group selling illegal firearms and drugs in the Valley, and agents bought stolen firearms, machine guns and silencers. A hazardous-material team was sent to one location in the 6900 block of Lubao Avenue in Woodland Hills, but crews found only household chemicals at the site and determined there was no hazard, Hoffman said. 

Other locations connected to the operation included the 4000 block of West 28th Street; the 1300 block of West Washington Boulevard; and the location where some boats were berthed in G Basin along Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey. The sheriff's department assisted in securing one vessel, which was seized by the ATF on allegations that it was used to transport illegal weapons.

Hoffman told Patch that three additional fugitives were apprehended at these locations who were not part of the investigation but had outstanding warrants out for their arrests.

"They were in the wrong place at the wrong time," said Hoffman.

City News Service contributed to this report.