The FBI revealed on Friday that nearly 50 individuals connected to the notorious Latin Kings street gang have been apprehended in a large-scale, multi-state operation. This crackdown targeted gang-related activities, drug trafficking, and threats against law enforcement, marking a significant stride in curbing the gang’s influence.
Named “Operation Broken Crown,” this three-month endeavor was a collaborative effort involving over a dozen FBI field offices, alongside federal, state, local, and tribal partners. The operation is part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to dismantle violent gangs across the nation.
Since the initiative began last October, authorities have confiscated more than a dozen firearms. Additionally, they seized nearly $200,000 of illegal funds and over 10 kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs, as reported by the FBI.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the success of the operation, stating, “Under President Trump’s and Attorney General Bondi’s leadership, the FBI is dismantling violent gang networks in America at a record pace—breaking their operations and saving lives in the process,” in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Patel also noted, “In 2025, we saw a 210% increase in gang takedowns from MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, and now just weeks into 2026, we’re announcing another three-month takedown operation.” This continues the bureau’s determined efforts to target the Latin Kings gang across the country.
“In 2025 we saw a 210% increase in gang takedowns from MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, and now just weeks in to 2026, we’re announcing another 3 month takedown operation,” he continued.
Patel added that the FBI “will continue working 24/7 to crush violent crime and eliminate networks facilitating harm on the American people.”
The FBI said a member of the Latin Kings street gang explicitly threatened a law enforcement officer in October 2025 and was later arrested.
The FBI announced a nationwide crackdown on the Latin Kings street gang, resulting in nearly 50 arrests and the seizure of firearms, drugs and illicit cash. (Amy Taxin/AP Photo)
Another alleged member of the Latin Kings was charged in federal court in the District of Minnesota this month with being a felon in possession of a firearm and theft of government property after breaking into an FBI vehicle and stealing a rifle.
An investigation by FBI Indianapolis also led to an alleged Latin Kings member being sentenced to 21 years in federal prison this month after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine.
Federal authorities say a multi-state FBI operation disrupted the Latin Kings gang’s criminal network across the U.S. (Fox News)
In a separate January operation, the FBI Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force executed five residential search warrants and arrested four Latin Kings members for drug trafficking and firearm possession charges, while seizing 10 firearms and more than $120,000 in illicit funds.
FBI Milwaukee later arrested two additional gang members tied to the case and recovered a rifle with a machine gun conversion device and a pistol.
