10 tied to Southern California gangs charged in homemade gun ring (VIDEO)

By Chris Eger

A joint operation between the Los Angeles Police Department and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives wrapped up a six-month investigation with the arrest this week of 10 suspects with ties to an East Los Angeles criminal street gang.
The investigation, began in January, targeted criminals selling so-called “ghost guns,” or homemade firearms produced without serial numbers or background checks. The operation seized or purchased through undercover buys 50 assorted firearms, one suppressor, a number of magazines that are regulated under California law, as well as three pounds of methamphetamine, vehicles, body armor and money.
“Search warrants at the end of the investigation resulted in the seizing of firearms manufacturing tools and materials used to build AR-style rifles and pistols from unfinished lower receiver kits,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bill McMullan. “This is a common trend ATF is seeing in SoCal amongst gangs. Criminals building their own guns since they are prohibited from buying guns legally.”
Besides a factory-produced AK47 style rifle and an SKS, officials say that the majority of the firearms recovered were homemade AR-15 type rifles in various configurations and two Polymer 80 style handguns. In many cases, the suspects were operating from and manufacturing the

Source: Guns.com