ATF-led probe on Puente 13 gang ends in 17 arrests, seizure of 76 weapons

A three-year investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives resulted in the arrest of 17 members and associates of the San Gabriel Valley-based Puente 13 gang and the seizures of 76 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, 10 pounds of methamphetamine, thousands of pills containing fentanyl and carfentanil and about $9,500 in cash on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

The suspects are allegedly involved in a kidnapping in San Bernardino, shootings in Covina and La Puente, illegal gun sales, and trafficking of drugs that include methamphetamine cocaine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, according to an affidavit written by an ATF agent whose name was blacked out. Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid 100 times more powerful than fentanyl.

Dubbed “Operation Burning Bridges,” authorities served 17 search warrants and 20 arrest warrants in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, according to Kenny Cooper, the special agent in charge of the ATF Los Angeles Field Division, who spoke during a news  conference Wednesday  in front of the Covina Police Department.

The ATF used wiretaps and also bought weapons from the gang in what Cooper called “controlled sales.”

Because of the investigation, many guns, drugs and gang members have been taken off the streets, Sheriff Robert Luna said, adding the communities are safer.

“It helps us in Los Angeles County to reduce our homicide rates and violent crime rate,” Luna said.

The suspects are accused of distributing methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a machine gun, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

The weapons found included 14 rifles, one machine gun, four short-barreled rifles and three firearms with obliterated serial numbers. Investigators also seized three pieces of body armor and other stolen goods, said Nicole Lozano, ATF Special Agent and spokeswoman.

If convicted, nine of the suspects arrested Wednesday would face statutory maximum sentences of life in federal prison, U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Those arrested included Victor Sanchez, 24, a.k.a. “Pollo” and “Chicken,” of San Bernardino; Isaiah Castro, 24, a.k.a. “Boy,” of Azusa; Isaac Estrada-Frost, 21, a.k.a. “Ghost,” of Rosemead; Heather Covarrubias, 40, a.k.a. “Snowbella,” of Diamond Bar; Dominic Ornelas, 23, a.k.a. “Dom” and “Lil Speedy,” of Rancho Cucamonga; Adrian Lopez, 25, a.k.a. “Tapped In” and “Monkey,” of La Puente; and Bryan Gordian-Padilla, 24, a.k.a. “Goon,” of West Covina or Baldwin Park.

Investigators are still looking for Larry Castillo, 42, a.k.a “Lil Dee” of Victorville and Soo Kang, 31, a.k.a “Easy” of Los Angeles.

Two other suspects were already in custody on unrelated charges and an additional two suspects are dead, Lozano said.

The investigation began three years ago following a shooting in Covina, Covina Police Chief Ric Walczak said. Detectives identified the suspects. Recognizing the scope and complexity, he said they asked the assistance of the ATF as well as support from neighboring agencies.

Cooper and the other police departments declined to give specific details about the alleged crimes the gang is suspected of committing. However, the affidavit had details.

Ornelas and another person allegedly shot at a home on East Hurst Street in Covina on Dec. 18, 2022. There were several people outside at the time. Lopez allegedly drove Ornelas to and from the shooting.

The home is associated with Blackwood, a clique of Puente 13, which has a long-standing feud with Ballista, another clique of Puente 13, according to the affidavit. Covina Police recovered 24 casings from the area surrounding the residence.

The two suspected shooters ran afterward.

“As they ran, Ornelas tripped and lost his left shoe, before jumping the retaining wall,” the affidavit said.

Authorities recovered the shoe, which matched the size and size of shoes in Ornelas’ room and DNA from the shoe matched Ornelas, the affidavit stated.

The kidnapping happened July 20-21, 2023 in San Bernardino and involved two victims identified only in the affidavit as A.A. and A.C.

On July 8, 2023,  Covarrubias reported a burglary at the home on Grapevine Lane in San Bernardino that she then shared with Lopez. She told San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department that jewelry had been stolen and that she and Lopez gave house keys to A.A. to have him do work on Lopez’s car, the affidavit said.

On or about July 21, 2023, A.A. and A.C. told deputies that they were kidnapped by Lopez and Covarrubias from July 20, 2023, until the next night when A.C. was let go and A.A. escaped. The victims claimed a group beat A.A. to get back the missing jewelry.

The second shooting occurred around 5:19 a.m. on May 2, 2025 outside the H & H liquor store on Glendora Avenue in La Puente.

Surveillance video showed a four-door Honda Accord with an Arizona license plate park on the sidewalk next to the store and three people got out, the affidavit said. The driver was allegedly Estrada-Frost and was handed a gun by one of his companions, according to the affidavit.

The same companion spray painted a wall at the liquor store. The victim was across the street at a carwash vacuuming his car. Estrada-Frost allegedly walked toward the victim, yelled derogatory terms for Neighborhood Crip gang members and told the victim, “This is Puente.”

The victim, who isn’t a gang member, moved towards his car to leave. Estrada-Frost allegedly yelled racial slurs at him. The victim got in his car. As he drove past Estrada-Frost, the suspect allegedly shot at the car hitting the passenger door frame.

Puente 13 started in La Puente in the 1950s as “Bridgetown Gentlemen.” The turf it clams include La Puente, some of the unincorporated communities near La Puente and portions of Hacienda Heights, Walnut and West Covina.  Federal officials say the gang has also claimed turf in Industry and Pomona.

About 14 local gangs are deemed factions or cliques of the gang. Puente 13 not only fights with other gangs but also among its different factions.

Federal officials estimated the gang’s membership at  600.

Other agencies that assisted the ATF include the Covina Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the West Covina Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and the Baldwin Park Police Department.