Nearly 70 alleged members of an organized crime ring were indicted this week in what US Attorney Martin Estrada called one of the "largest takedowns in the history of the Department of Justice of a neo-Nazi, white supremacist, violent extremist organization."
The "Peckerwoods," which is a derogatory term used against poor white people and Caucasians in prison, is a gang in the San Fernando Valley. Many Peckerwoods members also have tattoos of the letters "SFV," which stands for San Fernando Valley and "Searching For Victims," according to KTLA.
KTLA reported that FBI Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis equated the Peckerwoods to a "local chapter" of the Aryan Brotherhood and noted the gang pays taxes to them.
On Wednesday, 68 of the gang's members were indicted and 42 of them are currently in custody.
According to the indictment, the alleged members face a litany of individual charges, including conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices.
"The Peckerwoods are involved in a wide variety of criminal activity, from drug trafficking to fraud offenses to firearms offenses, violence and identity theft," US Attorney Estrada said. "But what truly distinguishes them is their hate and animosity to ethnic and religious minorities."
In one instance, Estrada told KTLA a gang member named Ryan Bedford, who was arrested for allegedly selling drugs and manufacturing explosive devices, had a "treasure trove" of white supremacist paraphernalia, including replica Nazi uniforms and posters of Adolf Hitler. He also posted he wanted to murder and commit genocide against Jewish people on social media.
"In fact, when we searched his home, we found a notepad that had written as its New Year's resolution: 'Bake every single Jew,'" Estrada said. "That's what this group stands for...that's what the Peckerwoods are all about."
The Department of Justice revealed the Peckerwoods used a members-only Facebook group to send messages between gang members and associates, identify members' standings, and target their enemies.
Officials also alleged racketeering conspiracy against Peckerwoods' leaders, who allegedly sold large amounts of dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, to sell in Southern California. Davis said he expects this investigation will "significantly cripple their network."
Most defendants charged with drug-related offenses face a minimum of 10 years and maximum of life in prison, Estrada told KTLA.
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