A two and a half year long investigation by FBI agents, Orange County Sheriff’s detectives, Santa Ana police department and the Orange County district attorney’s office resulted in federal and state indictments of 129 people.

There were 55 arrests along with seizures of weapons and drugs. The charges were for extortion, racketeering, and drug dealing. Officials released some details regarding the type of criminal activities the gang members were supposedly involved in. Some were said to have been dealing drugs in the jail or involved in beatings of gang member inmates.

The district attorney’s offices explained that these crimes were ordered by the Mexican Mafia. In the streets of Orange County, the Mexican Mafia ordered gangs to be taxed in order to operate in neighborhoods. The investigation, called Operation Smokin’ Aces, uncovered communications dealings with heroin trafficking and orders for beatings.

Treviño Morales on the other hand was a civilian that managed to work his way up to top positions. In 2010 Los Zetas broke off from the Gulf Cartel and established themselves as the largest dangerous cartel. Treviño Morales became their leader when founder Heriberto Lazcano died in October 2010. It is alleged that the captured leader had ordered hundreds of Central American migrants killed or tortured because they would not become drug mules or for other reasons.

Mexican naval forces and ground troops captured him and two lieutenants at dawn on July 16. He carried $2 million in cash and eight guns. President Enrique Peña Nieto had explained he would focus on local level law enforcement to handle drug cartels as opposed to taking down top leaders.