Full Notification

DATE/TIME: May 10, 2017

INCIDENT: Criminal Street Gang - Special Enforcement Operation

LOCATION: High Desert

SUMMARY: Over the past 10 months a joint investigation has been conducted by members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Victorville City Gang Enforcement Team and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) with assistance from the Apple Valley and Hesperia City Gang Enforcement Teams, High Desert Regional Gang Enforcement Team and San Bernardino County Probation. This investigation targeted a criminal street gang operating in the City of Victorville. Investigators have determined the Below Underground criminal street gang is responsible for the distribution of illegal narcotics and violent crimes throughout Victorville City and the surrounding High Desert communities.

The gang actively recruits prospective members from our communities, usually children from our neighborhoods and schools. Members and associates of the gang actively sell narcotics and weapons to further their criminal organization and to instill fear in the community.
As a result of the ongoing investigation, on April 25, 2017, the District Attorney’s Office issued arrest warrants for 21 documented gang members and associates of the Below Underground Criminal Street Gang including members of the Compton Varrio 117th Criminal Street gang, Mongols Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and High Desert Deuces Motorcycle Club, with criminal charges related to conspiracy to distribute heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription drugs and various weapon violations.
On May 10, 2017 the joint task force served arrest warrants for the remaining outstanding suspects in Victorville, Apple Valley and Hesperia.
Approximately 30 arrests were made during this investigation, investigators served 10 search warrants, seized approximately 5lbs. of Heroin, 1/4lb of Cocaine, 18lbs. of processed Marijuana, over 200 unprocessed Marijuana plants, 200 Prescription pills and 24 firearms.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is committed to aggressively pursuing gang members and narcotic traffickers that threaten the safety of our local communities.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Victorville Police Department at (760) 241-2911. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.

Refer: Deputy R. Brosowske / Mara Rodriguez, Media Relations Officer

Station: Victorville Police Department

Phone No. (760) 241-2911

JOHN MCMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department