Federal agents served search warrants in Murrieta as part of a sweeping gang and drug trafficking takedown that produced 42 indictments across Southern California.

The operation, carried out Wednesday, Oct. 28, and Thursday, Oct. 29, targeted alleged members and associates of several San Diego County street gangs, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California. Authorities arrested 35 defendants and executed 10 search warrants on homes and vehicles in 14 cities, including Murrieta and neighboring Temecula.

Agents seized drugs, guns, ammunition and cash during the takedown and throughout the two-year investigation, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Murrieta resident among defendants

Four federal grand jury indictments charge the 42 defendants with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl. Among those charged is William Kidwell Jr., 44, of Murrieta, listed as a defendant in one of the four cases. Brian Keller, 46, of Temecula is also charged. The U.S. Attorney's Office did not specify which defendants were arrested and which remain at large beyond stating that seven were still being sought as of Friday, Oct. 30.

All defendants are presumed innocent. The charges are allegations.

Two-year probe of Poway gang

The FBI began investigating the Varrio Hidden Hills criminal street gang in Poway in mid-2024, focusing on John Marquez, 49, a senior-ranking documented member of the gang, according to court documents cited in the announcement. The probe expanded across San Diego County and other parts of California.

Prosecutors allege Marquez led an international drug trafficking operation with ties to the Mexican Mafia, a U.S.-based prison gang. According to court documents, Marquez organized a distribution scheme using gang members as distributors, set pricing and collected drug proceeds to send back to suppliers in Mexico.

As Times of San Diego reported, most defendants live in San Diego County, with 11 from the city of San Diego and eight from Oceanside.

Agents fired upon in Lemon Grove

FBI agents came under fire while serving an arrest warrant at 6:10 a.m. Wednesday at a Lemon Grove home. After agents identified themselves, someone fired multiple shots through the front door and front window, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. No agents were struck. The person targeted by the warrant was taken into custody.

U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon called the operation a strike "at the heart of this violent, sophisticated, Mexican Mafia connected criminal gang."

FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily said the investigation "dismantled a violent criminal operation led by an assessed gang leader with suspected cartel associations, responsible for moving dangerous narcotics into our neighborhoods."

Multi-agency effort

The Riverside Sheriff's Office was among more than a dozen agencies involved in the investigation, along with the FBI, San Diego County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol (CHP), Homeland Security Investigations and others.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill Streja and Shivanjali A. Sewak. Residents with information about gang or drug activity can contact the FBI San Diego Field Office or local law enforcement.