This Gang Thought They Were Untouchable – The Feds Had Other Plans!

Federal authorities have brought down a major white supremacist street gang in Los Angeles, unveiling charges against 68 members and associates. The indictment comes after years of investigations into the Peckerwoods, a neo-Nazi organization accused of engaging in an array of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, gun crimes, and fraud. The group is based in the San Fernando Valley and has connections with other dangerous prison gangs like the Aryan Brotherhood and the Mexican Mafia.

The case, filed under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, spans from 2016 to 2024, targeting the gang’s far-reaching operations. Federal agents revealed that 29 members of the Peckerwoods were arrested recently, while 13 were already in custody. The accused face charges that include conspiracy to distribute drugs, firearms offenses, bank fraud, identity theft, and COVID-19-related fraud schemes. If convicted, the charges could result in life sentences in federal prison for some defendants.

U.S. Attorney Martín Estrada spoke about the significance of the indictment, describing the gang as a severe threat. “By allegedly engaging in everything from drug-trafficking to firearms offenses to identity theft to COVID fraud, and through their alliance with a neo-Nazi prison gang, the Peckerwoods are a destructive force,” Estrada said in a statement. He emphasized that the prosecution of the Peckerwoods is a critical step in protecting the community from violent extremist groups.

The Peckerwoods, whose name originates from a racial slur used against white people, are known for their allegiance to white supremacy ideologies. The gang uses Nazi symbols, tattoos, and graffiti to assert its extremist views. Their iconography includes swastikas, the number “88,” which stands for “Heil Hitler,” and other Nazi-era imagery. This symbolism helps identify the gang’s violent and hateful beliefs, which they proudly display in prisons and on the streets.

The gang’s criminal operations are varied, but federal agents uncovered drug trafficking as one of their main sources of income. Authorities reported that the group mailed drugs to customers and used payment apps like Zelle and CashApp to handle transactions. The investigation also revealed that some members filed fraudulent loan applications, capitalizing on the COVID-19 pandemic to steal funds intended for small businesses. One member falsely claimed to be a self-employed “artist/writer” with a gross income of $250,000 and received a $20,833 loan.

In addition to their involvement in financial fraud, members of the Peckerwoods were found to be using social media to spread hate. During the Black Lives Matter protests following the police killing of George Floyd in June 2020, one member posted in a Facebook group, “I wish all the blacks and all the cops would just kill ALL of each other. Our side of the dayroom only! If that’s all that was left in the world, that would be awesome.”

The Peckerwoods’ criminal empire has long terrorized communities, operating under a network of alliances with other violent gangs. Their relationship with the Aryan Brotherhood, a notorious white supremacist prison gang, has made them even more dangerous. Additionally, their cooperation with the Mexican Mafia—despite its racial differences—demonstrates the lengths these gangs will go to maintain power and control in California’s criminal underworld.

The indictment marks a major victory in the fight against organized white supremacist groups, but authorities stress that the work is not over. While dozens of members are now facing justice, federal agents and prosecutors will continue to dismantle the operations of similar hate-fueled gangs.

As the case unfolds, the community will look to see how these prosecutions impact the broader landscape of white supremacist and neo-Nazi movements in the United States. With alliances spanning across multiple gangs and regions, the fall of the Peckerwoods could signal a turning point in the fight against organized racial violence. Authorities remain committed to rooting out extremist groups and ensuring that their reign of terror is brought to an end.