FBI Los Angeles

Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Mission Services Division in Los Angeles, Patrick Grandy, highlights investigative successes for the month of February, including the sentencing of a man from the Inland Empire region for serving as a spy for the People’s Republic of China while also serving as the campaign advisor for a political candidate who later became an elected council member. SAC Grandy also noted that three fugitives were returned to Orange County this year from Mexico, Vietnam, and Guatemala based on the successful relationship FBI Los Angeles has built with domestic and international law enforcement partners.

Following a four-year investigation, the FBI’s Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force arrested eleven people today in a title fraud case called “Operation Hard Money.” The defendants were indicted for allegedly defrauding lenders by stealing the identities of elderly victims, then using the stolen information to access title reports and solicit loans backed by the properties.

Additional details regarding today’s “Operation Hard Money,” which resulted in eleven arrests of individuals for their roles in a fraud scheme which targeted lenders and elderly homeowners with title fraud: justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/2…

#OTD in 1990, two men dressed as police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. After subduing the nighttime security guards, they seized 13 priceless works of art, making it the largest property crime in the world. The #FBI continues its search for the stolen artworks today, and you can help. Take a look at all 13 pieces, and if you have information on their whereabouts, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips to tips.fbi.gov.

Today marks the 76th anniversary of the #FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Over the decades, the list has evolved from highlighting bank robbers and car thieves to focusing on the most violent criminal #fugitives who pose an active threat to our communities today. Your help is critical to locating them and bringing them to #justice. See the full list at fbi.gov/wanted/topten and submit tips to tips.fbi.gov. #MostWanted

Thank you to @LAPDHQ and @LASDHQ for their strong partnerships with the Bureau as they work with executives from FBI Los Angeles and FBIHQ in touring the LA area in preparation for the Olympics in 2028.

The FBI Los Angeles Domestic Security Alliance Council, also known as DSAC, convened security executives from various sectors, including sports, entertainment, financial, defense industrial base and technology for its quarterly meeting. Participants engaged in expert-led tabletop exercises focused on executive protection, major event security and insider threats. FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Jensen Penalosa, also briefed attendees on the Bureau’s newest cyber initiative - #OperationWinterShield. Through partnerships like DSAC, the FBI continues to strengthen collaboration with private industry to identify threats, share intelligence and to enhance the security of our communities.

A member of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, Michael Lerma, 69, who controlled and extorted Latino street gangs in the Pomona area - and three of his underlings - were sentenced today to life in federal prison for racketeering-related crimes, including the June 2020 murder of a federal inmate in Los Angeles. Lerma, a.k.a. “Pomona Mike” and “Big Mike,” were sentenced by United States District Judge George H. Wu, who also ordered the defendants to pay $10,365 in restitution. Judge Wu also sentenced the following defendants to life in federal prison: •Carlos Gonzalez, 42, a.k.a. “Popeye”; •Juan Sanchez, 33, a.k.a. “Squeaks”; and •Jose Valencia Gonzalez, 44, a.k.a. “Swifty.” At the conclusion of a 20-day trial, a jury in March 2025 found all four defendants guilty of one count of racketeering conspiracy, one count of violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder, and one count of first-degree murder within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Additional Details: justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/f…

Latest Top Ten Fugitives News! Samuel Ramirez Jr., wanted by @FBISeattle, was apprehended without incident on March 10, 2026, in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, only 1 hour and 13 minutes after being announced as an addition to the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. This is now the shortest amount of time anyone has ever spent on the notorious list. He was returned to the United States yesterday and is now in Washington state. Additional details: fbi.gov/contact-us/fie…

On behalf of Director Kash Patel, FBI Assistant Director in Charge in Los Angeles, Akil Davis, presents a letter of appreciation to Chief Superintendent, Gal Ben Ish, Israel Police and Security Ministry Attaché. His collaborative efforts have contributed to our mutual success against Israel-based organized crime syndicates.

This week, the #FBI added Trung Duc Lu to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List. He is #wanted in connection with the August 2014 torture, kidnapping, and murder of two Vietnamese brothers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A third male was also tortured and kidnapped but managed to survive the attack. The FBI offers a #reward of up to $1,000,000 for information leading directly to his arrest. Additional details: fbi.gov/wanted/topten/…

Since 1935, the FBI's Law Enforcement Bulletin has highlighted the work and experiences of the FBI and our law enforcement partners. This month, learn how agencies are working to prevent suicide clusters among law enforcement officers.

Today the #FBI and @TheJusticeDept announced an international law enforcement operation that took down SocksEscort, a global malicious proxy service, seizing dozens of servers and domains and freezing millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. Criminals infected home and small business routers with backdoors, then sold access to use them in cyberattacks, causing millions in losses. @FBISacramento is investigating the case. justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/a…

Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, Akil Davis, joined Los Angeles Police Chief, Jim McDonnell, this morning to announce that the #reward offer for Top Ten Fugitive, Omar Cardenas, has been increased to $1 million. Cardenas is #wanted for allegedly killing a man in the Sylmar area of Los Angeles. It is alleged that Cardenas fired several rounds from a semi-automatic handgun at the victim, striking him in the head, causing his death. Additional details can be found here: fbi.gov/wanted/topten/…

Miguel Abrajan-Morales, 30, of Fullerton, has been federally charged with carjacking a restaurant employee in Orange County last month – assaulting both the victim and her coworker who rushed to help her and nearly hitting them with the stolen vehicle. Details: justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/i…

The FBI remembers Special Agent Paul M. Sorce, who died on this day in 2009 from injuries sustained in a car accident. Sorce was surveilling a suspect in Michigan at the time of the accident. Details: fbi.gov/history/wall-o…

On this U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, the #FBI sends our support to every American being held in captivity and to their loved ones. We are committed to working with our federal and international partners to return them home and bring their captors to #justice.

FBI Washington Field Office Statement on the 19th Anniversary of the Abduction of Robert A. "Bob" Levinson: Bob, a retired #FBI agent, was abducted from Kish Island, Iran, on March 9, 2007. #FBIWFO remembers Bob and his family every day. fbi.gov/contact-us/fie…

The FBI's Los Angeles Infragard Chapter joined the FBI's Art Crime Team in Los Angeles and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles to host 180 museum and cultural institutions for a briefing on post critical incidents at cultural institutions from the FBI's Art Crime Team perspective in light of the recent theft at the Louvre. The panel discussed museum security and emergency response and what can be expected after critical incidents. Participants gained practical insight into how to better prepare staff, align policies, and coordinate effectively with law enforcement during both the immediate aftermath and the days that follow. The successful event provided valuable guidance to help cultural institutions strengthen readiness and protect employees, collections and cultural heritage. #FBIArtCrimeTeam

Victor Ignacio Beltran-Audelo is wanted for his alleged involvement in a scheme to smuggle fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin from Mexico into the United States – narcotics that allegedly were packed into fire extinguishers and concealed in scrap metal loads. If you have any information concerning this person, please call 1800-CALL-FBI or contact the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. 👉Details: fbi.gov/wanted/cei/vic…

Byrom Zuniga Sanchez, 34, formerly of Laguna Niguel, but whose most recent residence was in Mexico, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for threatening to kill a superior court judge who had presided over his family law case.