Los Angeles: In March 2004, several state, local and federal agencies, including Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Offender Unit, Rampart Area; the Abatement Unit, Narcotic’s Division; California State Parole; Department of Children and Family Services; Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; the Los Angeles Districts Attorney’s Office; and, the United States Attorney’s Office initiated a Multi-Agency taskforce, that focused on the illegal possession of firearms and drug sales inside the Casa Sonora Hotel/Apartment located at 729 South Union in Los Angeles.

In the early morning hours of May 7, 2004, 18 search warrants were served by the Los Angeles Police Department's Metropolitan Division, as well as 8 parole searches served by the California Department of Corrections at the Casa Sonora. The Department of Children and Family Services took seven children into custody and opened six additional child welfare cases.

The search warrants resulted in 17 felony arrests and 3 misdemeanor arrests. The following is a list of the property that was recovered: 4 handguns; 1 shotgun; 187 gross grams of Cocaine; 201 gross grams of marijuana; and $3,834 in U.S. Currency.

For further information, please contact Detective Harris, Rampart Major Offenders Unit, at, 213-207-2129 or Special Agent Latese Baker, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, at 213-534-2412.

This news release was prepared by Sergeant Catherine Plows, Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.