The lead defendant in a federal RICO indictment that was brought as part of the nation’s largest-ever gang sweep was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for helping coordinate the racketeering activities of the Varrio Hawaiian Gardens street gang and distributing large quantities of narcotics.
George Manuel Flores, also known as Boxer, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer, who is presiding over the 57-defendant racketeering indictment that was the centerpiece of “Operation Knock Out” in 2009.
Flores was the lead defendant in the RICO indictment, a longtime member of the Hawaiian Gardens gang, and a sometime “shot-caller” who was able to issue orders to other gang members and collect “taxes” from drug dealers.
Flores pleaded guilty on March 26, 2010, to five counts: racketeering conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana; two counts of possession with the intent to distribute heroin; and being a felon in possession of ammunition.
The investigation into the Varrio Hawaiian Gardens (VHG) gang began after the fatal shooting of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy Jerry Ortiz, who was gunned down on June 24, 2005, by a gang member he was attempting to arrest.
