EL CENTRO, Calif. (AP) -- Thirty-one people have been indicted in what authorities are calling a significant blow to the Mexican Mafia gang in Southern California.
The 46-count indictment was delivered by the San Diego County grand jury last week and unsealed today. It includes charges of attempted murder, solicitation to commit murder, extortion, distribution of narcotics and kidnapping.
If convicted, the defendants face maximum sentences of life in prison.
Authorities have arrested 28 of the 31 accused, including some already jailed on other crimes.
Attorney General Jerry Brown said the indictment caused "total dismantlement" of a significant Mexican Mafia cell in San Diego and Imperial counties.
The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in San Diego on Tuesday.
