The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a significant operation by its Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) targeting gang-operated sex trafficking in Los Angeles, resulting in the arrest of ten suspects and the identification of at least 51 victims. The arrests, made during the week of July 1 by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles and partner agencies, focused on members and associates of the Hoover Criminals Gang (HCG) operating in the city's Figueroa Corridor.
The suspects now face federal racketeering charges, including sex trafficking, money laundering, firearms offenses, and narcotics offenses. Authorities said the gang targeted runaways, including children from foster care systems, and used social media for recruitment. Victims, some as young as 14, were allegedly subjected to coercion, physical force, and branding. Many of the arrestees have prior criminal histories involving robbery, kidnapping, and burglary.
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis emphasized the operation's success, saying, "These dangerous criminals are off our streets and will not be able to exploit innocent children anymore." Eddy Wang, Special Agent in Charge for HSI Los Angeles, added, "HSI remains steadfast in our mission to protect victims and pursue justice against human traffickers."
This recent action marks the second phase of "Operation Broken Blade," which initially launched in August 2025 and led to the arrest of eleven suspects. HSI Los Angeles collaborated with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) in this latest effort.