The FBI’s Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Gangs and the Inglewood Police Department seized firearms as part of an ongoing investigation into the Inglewood Family Gang. The departments announced 13 arrests at a press conference Wednesday, Oct. 31 at the Inglewood Police Department. (Courtesy of Laura Eimiller)

Inglewood Police Chief Mark Fronterotta speaks at a press conference announcing the arrests of 13 gang members Wednesday, Oct. 31 at the Inglewood Police Department. (Nathaniel Percy, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

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A poster shows the mugshots of 10 of the 13 alleged gang members arrested by local and federal authorities on various firearms and narcotics violations as part of Operation “Red Harvest.” (Nathaniel Percy, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

A poster shows the mugshots of 10 of the 13 alleged gang members arrested by local and federal authorities on various firearms and narcotics charges as part of Operation “Red Harvest.” (Nathaniel Percy, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

Inglewood Mayor James Butts speaks at a press conference announcing the arrests of 13 gang members Wednesday, Oct. 31 at the Inglewood Police Department. (Nathaniel Percy, Daily Breeze/SCNG)



Paul Delacourt, assistant director in charge fo the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, speaks at a press conference announcing the arrests of 13 gang members Wednesday, Oct. 31 at the Inglewood Police Department. (Nathaniel Percy, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

Thirteen members of an Inglewood street gang are facing various gun and drug charges after a federal grand jury returned a series of indictments, officials announced Wednesday, Oct. 31.

A 14th person was also taken into custody, but federal charges had not been filed against him, authorities said.

Focusing on the Inglewood Family Gang, Paul Delacourt, assistant director in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Los Angeles Field Office, said the arrests were made through the work of a Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Gangs and the Inglewood Police Department.

The agencies targeted the gang for its evolution from a local Inglewood street gang to an organized national criminal enterprise, Delacourt said. The gang has known groups in New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Oklahoma, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

“Many of the defendants are considered leaders or shot-callers in the organization,” Delacourt said. “Our hope is that this sends a message to other gang members that narcotics and firearms and trafficking and violence and intimidation won’t be tolerated in Inglewood or the surrounding Los Angeles area.”

Task force investigators found that members and associates used established cliques to traffic firearms, powder and crack cocaine, methamphetamine and other narcotics while engaging in violent crimes.

The task force and police made a series of controlled purchases through which they acquired firearms and various narcotics, Delacourt said.

In one indictment, undercover sources purchased methamphetamine from two members – Agyei Hasani Covington, 39 of Inglewood and Charles Armstead, 37, of San Bernardino – and set up future transactions.

Most of the arrests were made Tuesday, Oct. 30 with the assistance of SWAT teams, Delacourt said. Some were arrested as early as Friday, Oct. 26 and one was arrested last year, he said. Nearly all of the members arrested resided in the South Bay.

“Want to make it clear, we take this very seriously,” Inglewood Police Chief Mark Fronterotta said. “This is a clear message to all gangs they are not welcome here anymore and we will leave no stone unturned in terms of a full-court press in bringing justice for everyone.

Those arrested include:

Byron Sumlin, 45, Gramercy Park, who was charged with unlawfully selling firearms without a license;

Jason Inge, 31, of Inglewood, who was charged with cocaine distribution, aiding and abetting and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Inge was arrested in Atlanta and the government was seeking to bring Inge to Los Angeles for prosecution;

Terrence Hale, 51, of Gardena, who was charged with distributing cocaine and methamphetamine and aiding and abetting;

Ralph Adrian Williams, 33, of Long Beach, who was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition;

Hafoka Netane, 33, of Hawthorne, who was charged with cocaine distribution and aiding and abetting;

Ronald Anthony Miller, 29, of Inglewood, who was charged with cocaine distribution and aiding and abetting;

Covington, who was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting;

Justin Jackson, 23, of Gardena, who was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm;

Armstead, who was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting;

Victoria Sanders, 50, of Inglewood, who was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of controlled substances and aiding and abetting;

Eddie Lee Jackson, 54, of Inglewood, who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine;

Derick Butler, 31, of Inglewood, who was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms;

Chad Jones, 28, of Inglewood, who was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of controlled substances and aiding and abetting.

Officials said Butler pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to one year in prison. Sanders pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing while Jackson was arrested last year and is awaiting trial.

Miller and Covington were scheduled to make their first court appearances Wednesday, Oct. 31.

A 14th person, Dayquan Travion Ware, 28, of Los Angeles, was currently being held on a probation violation following his Tuesday arrest, authorities said. He is not currently facing federal charges.

If convicted on the charges in the indictments, maximum sentences for the defendants ranged from 10 years to life in federal prison.