In a significant nationwide operation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced the arrest of close to 50 individuals associated with the violent Latin Kings gang. The three-month-long initiative, termed Operation Broken Crown, was a coordinated effort involving more than a dozen FBI field offices along with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners. The operation spanned multiple states as part of the Trump administration's commitment to curtail organized crime.
"The FBI is breaking gang operations at a record pace and emphasized that aggressive enforcement saves lives by removing dangerous criminals from neighborhoods plagued by organized violence." - FBI Director Kash Patel
The mission of Operation Broken Crown was to target gang violence, disrupt large-scale drug trafficking operations, and neutralize threats directed at law enforcement officers. As President Trump's administration continues to prioritize aggressive action against violent criminal organizations, this operation has been highlighted as a key example of their law enforcement strategy.
The FBI has seized an array of illicit items during the operation, including over a dozen firearms, approximately $200,000 in illegal cash, and significant quantities of narcotics such as cocaine and fentanyl. FBI Director Kash Patel has publicly acknowledged President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi for their roles in intensifying the bureau's focus on violent gangs, with the overarching goal of enhancing public safety in American communities.
Under the leadership of Director Patel, the FBI has accelerated its pace in dismantling gang operations. This is evidenced by the reported 210% increase in operations targeting gangs like MS Thirteen and Tren de Aragua. The crackdown on the Latin Kings has been spotlighted as a testament to the federal government's resolve to eliminate violent crime and the networks that facilitate it.
The operation has achieved significant results, including the arrest of a Latin Kings member who overtly threatened a law enforcement officer in October 2025. That individual was apprehended after a thorough investigation. In a separate incident in Minnesota, an alleged gang member faces charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for stealing government property from an FBI vehicle.
The FBI's Indianapolis office led an investigation culminating in a 21-year federal prison sentence for a gang member involved in methamphetamine distribution. Meanwhile, law enforcement actions in Milwaukee resulted in multiple arrests, the confiscation of firearms, and the recovery of large sums of illegal funds.
Federal officials have described Operation Broken Crown as part of a larger strategy aimed at national gang dismantlement, emphasizing law and order while safeguarding law enforcement officers. Director Patel has assured the public that the FBI's pursuit of violent gangs will be unyielding as long as they continue to pose a threat to American neighborhoods and the officers dedicated to protecting them.
