Crackdown comes for Texas Mexican Mafia

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin police teamed up with the FBI and several other law enforcement groups in a crackdown on the so-called Texas Mexican Mafia that led to the arrest of more than a dozen suspected members.

In all 17 were arrested during this three-year-long investigation. Most of the 17 had long criminal records, according to Austin's Police Chief Art Acevedo.

"Drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, prostitution, weapons trafficking and murder, " Acevdo said. 

The 17 are members of the military-style gang known as the Mexican Mafia. According to law enforcement, the Mafia is a prison gang with connections to the Mexican drug cartels with its roots in East Los Angeles. Locally, the mafia has a strong presence in San Antonio.

"The Mexican Mafia is not welcome in Austin. I’m glad that as far as Austin goes, this is a huge hit on the leadership here locally," said Acevedo.

The name of the two-year Federal Task Force investigation is Operation Merecido , focusing on the top leadership levels of the prison gang -- which has expanded criminal operations outside of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in communities across Texas.

"Ultimately this is a win for this entire community," said Acevedo. "I think that the important message for the entire community is that they are our eyes and ears and when they see these issues going on in their neighborhoods they need to call it in."

Operation Merecido is winding down now that 16 suspected members and associates of the organization have been arrested on federal drug charges.

The investigation was a collaborative effort that included:

• FBI
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice
• Office of Inspect General
• U.S. Attorney's Office
• U.S. Marshals Office
• Texas Department of Public Safety
• Austin Police Department's Organized Crime Division -- Major Crimes and Gang units
• Hays, Travis and Williamson counties' sheriff's offices
• Round Rock, Pflugerville and San Marcos police departments