Florida AG Uthmeier Announces Conviction of Illegal Alien Gang Member Linked to California-Based Mafia
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, joined by law enforcement partners, has announced a significant victory in the state’s ongoing battle against organized crime and illegal immigration. The announcement centers on the conviction of Franklin Guillen Lara, an undocumented foreign national and member of the violent Sureños (SUR-13) gang, which maintains deep ties to the California-based Mexican Mafia.
Deep Search: Operation 13 Tiers
The conviction marks the culmination of “Operation 13 Tiers,” a complex, multi-agency investigation aimed at dismantling the SUR-13 network operating within Florida. Lara, identified as a key figure in the organization, was found guilty by a Hendry County jury on multiple felony counts, including trafficking in fentanyl and methamphetamine, and conspiracy to commit racketeering.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the operation has led to charges against 25 defendants and the seizure of substantial quantities of narcotics. Prosecutors presented evidence that the gang was responsible for flooding Florida communities with deadly fentanyl, orchestrated directly by leadership structures connected to the California prison system. Lara now faces a potential sentence of up to 120 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.
“This criminal alien took advantage of our porous borders to push poison into our neighborhoods,” Uthmeier stated during the press briefing. “The conviction we announced today ensures that a dangerous gang member is off the streets and will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars before being deported.”
Background: The SUR-13 and Immigration Enforcement
The Sureños, or SUR-13, is a collection of gangs loosely affiliated with the Mexican Mafia, a powerful criminal organization that originated in the California prison system. While their stronghold remains in Southern California, their reach has expanded across the United States, often facilitating drug distribution networks.
This case underscores Attorney General Uthmeier’s aggressive stance on border enforcement and his office’s priority of targeting “criminal aliens.” Since taking office, Uthmeier has frequently criticized federal border policies, arguing that “sanctuary” jurisdictions and lax enforcement have allowed transnational criminal organizations to establish footholds in states like Florida. This conviction is the latest in a series of high-profile prosecutions by the Office of Statewide Prosecution intended to signal that Florida will not tolerate criminal enterprises linked to illegal immigration.
Objections and Counter-Perspectives
While state officials have hailed the conviction as a triumph for public safety, legal observers and civil rights advocates often caution against the heavy emphasis on a defendant’s immigration status in criminal proceedings. Critics argue that highlighting “illegal alien” status in press releases can conflate immigration violations with violent crime, potentially stigmatizing entire immigrant communities who are statistically less likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens.
Furthermore, defense attorneys in similar racketeering cases have frequently raised concerns regarding the breadth of RICO statutes, arguing they can sometimes sweep up individuals with peripheral involvement in a gang’s core criminal activities. However, in this instance, the jury found the evidence against Lara sufficient to warrant a conviction on major trafficking charges.
The sentencing hearing for Franklin Guillen Lara is scheduled for later this month, where prosecutors intend to seek the maximum penalty allowed by law.
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