The Latest: MS-13 gang terrorized California farm town

FRESNO, Calif. – The Latest on the arrests MS-13 gang members in California on suspicion of murder, assault and drug trafficking (all times local):

11 a.m.

The U.S. attorney in Sacramento says more than two dozen MS-13 gang members and affiliates have been charged following a murder and drug trafficking investigation centred on a rural California farm city.

McGregor Scott said Thursday the notorious street gang took advantage of an understaffed police department in Mendota and terrorized the city of about 11,000 people. Scott was expected to announce the murder, assault and drug trafficking charges on Friday.

Mendota lies about 35 miles (60 kilometres) west of Fresno in California’s agriculturally rich Central Valley.

MS-13, or La Mara Salvatrucha, was formed in Los Angeles in the 1980s by refugees from El Salvador. President Donald Trump has singled out the gang as a threat to the U.S.

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6:30 a.m.

U.S. authorities are scheduled to announce the arrests of MS-13 gang members in California on suspicion of murder, assault and drug trafficking.

The U.S. attorney’s office has scheduled a news conference on Friday in Fresno. It says the arrests occurred in Los Angeles and the rural California farm city of Mendota.

Mendota has a population of roughly 11,000 people and lies 35 miles (60 kilometres) west of Fresno in California’s agriculturally rich Central Valley.

MS-13, or La Mara Salvatrucha, was formed in Los Angeles in the 1980s by refugees from El Salvador and is linked to many slayings in certain parts of the U.S. President Donald Trump has singled out the gang as a threat to the country.