Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Gangs

LAMTFVG logo

The **Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Gangs** (LAMTFVG) is a joint Federal Bureau of Investigation and Los Angeles Police Department drug and gang task force, it is part of the FBI's Safe Streets Gang Task Forces program. LAMTFVG investigates gangs and gang related crime in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, it also provides gang intelligence and operational support to other agencies when dealing with gangs or gang members who originate from Los Angeles.

The current task force commander is FBI Supervisory Special Agent Raymond Larkin, the current task force deputy commander is LAPD Captain Leon Parada, and the current field supervisor is HSI Special Agent Sean Marks.

### Participating Agencies

* Federal Bureau of Investigation
* Drug Enforcement Administration
* Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
* Customs and Border Protection
* Immigration and Customs Enforcement
* Federal Bureau of Prisons
* Los Angeles Police Department
* Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
* California Bureau of Investigation
* California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

## Task Force Priorities

* Gang crime
* Gang intelligence
* Drug crime
* Gun crime and counterproliferation
* Violent crime (gang related)
* National and transnational organized crime (gang related)
* Fugitive apprehension (gang related)
* Warrant service (gang related)

## Current Personnel

### Operational

* Raymond Larkin: FBI (Task Force Commander)
* Leon Parada: LAPD (Task Force Deputy Commander)
* Sean Marks: HSI (Field Supervisor)
* Kate Ellis: ATF (Deputy Field Supervisor)
* Damon Garris: DEA
* Heather Holm: FBI (deceased)
* Thomas Jordan: FBI
* Lewis Fuller: FBI
* David Croft: CBI
* Brian McGaren: LAPD MCD
* Joshua Kalen: LAPD MCD
* Todd Desmond: LASD OSS
* Craig Kelly: CDCR SSU

### Support

* Kristen Ross: DSS Liaison (Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force)
* Tyler Velez: HSI Liaison (Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force)
* Eric Donovan: FBI Technical Analyst
* Scott Mercer: Assistant U.S. Attorney
* Amber Turner: Los Angeles DDA
* Charlie Gutierrez: LA County DA Investigator
* Malcolm Sanders: LA County DA Investigator

### Personnel Info

* Full time: 57 sworn personnel and 25 support personnel
* Part time: 200 sworn personnel and 71 support personnel
* Total Personnel: 353

## History

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Gangs was formed in the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the task force was formalized in October 1992 between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and local law enforcement agencies. The original task force consisted of the FBI, ATF, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Los Angeles Police Department, as well as Compton, Inglewood and Long Beach Police Departments.

The Task Force's original mission was to identify and prosecute those individuals responsible for committing violent crimes during the 1992 riots, there was a particular emphasis on violent street gangs, especially gang leaders and core members. After completing its efforts related to the riots, the LA Task Force's mission was broadened to include the identification and prosecution of the most criminally active and violent individuals and enterprises in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, but the emphasis on gang-related violence was maintained.

The total authorized fiscal year 1996 budget for the LA Task Force was almost $394,000. This did not include undisclosed confidential expenditures for specific investigations. In addition, the FBI reimbursed about $80,000 to state/local agencies in the Los Angeles area to provide for the payment of overtime to officers participating on the LA Task Force.

In addition to the FBI-led LA Task Force, ATF, according to agency officials, provided direct assistance, such as personnel and equipment, to local law enforcement agencies combating gangs, using federal firearms laws and other laws against gang members. ATF's efforts, according to the officials, were smaller than the FBI's and less formal in that they did not always involve formal task forces. In this regard, they said that ATF-led task forces, in contrast to the FBI's LA Task Force, usually targeted a specific local gang problem and consisted of one or two ATF agents working with local police.

Over the years the task force grew and received more funding and personnel, it also received more specialist training and gear, as well as access to technical and intelligence analysts.

The fictional 'Gang Task Force' in the short lived Fox series Gang Related is loosely based on LAMTFVG. The task force is typically referred to as either 'LAM' (pronounced lamb) or 'Metro'.

## Current Structure

Current personnel are drawn from the following:

### Federal Bureau of Investigation

* Violent Crime Unit
* Violent Crime Squads
* Safe Streets Gang Task Forces
* Special Weapons and Tactics

### Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

* Group I (Major Case Group)
* Group IV (Crime Gun Intelligence Center)
* Special Response Team

### Drug Enforcement Administration

* Southern California Drug Task Force
* Special Response Team
* Mobile Enforcement Teams

### Customs and Border Protection

* Office of Field Operations
* CBP Special Response Teams

### Immigration and Customs Enforcement

* Homeland Security Investigations
* Major Case Group
* Special Response Teams (HSI and ERO)
* ICE Fugitive Operations

### Los Angeles Police Department

* Gang and Narcotics Division
* Special Investigation Section
* Major Crimes Division
* Metropolitan Division

### Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

* Operation Safe Streets
* Special Enforcement Bureau

### California Bureau of Investigation

* Special Operations Unit
* Special Investigations Team
* LA CLEAR
* California Gang Task Force

## Gallery

Federal Bureau of InvestigationLos Angeles Police DepartmentDrug Enforcement AdministrationBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and ExplosivesU.S. Customs and Border ProtectionHomeland Security InvestigationsFederal Bureau of PrisonsCalifornia Bureau of InvestigationLos Angeles County Sheriff's DepartmentCalifornia Department of Corrections and RehabilitationDiplomatic Security ServiceCalifornia Gang Task ForceViolent Crime UnitSouthern California Drug Task ForceMajor Case GroupMajor Crimes Division