Label this great news, but also a stark reminder of the Evil we face. In a sweeping RICO indictment, 11 members and associates of the Hoover Criminal Gang in Los Angelos have been charged with operating a massive human trafficking ring that specifically preyed upon society's most vulnerable populations.
To read the full Department of Justices press release, please click here.
The criminal syndicate, led by 25-year-old Amaya "Lady Duck" Armstead, ran from February 2021 through August 2025 and represents one of the most significant federal actions taken against organized trafficking in the region. Armstead, identified as the de facto leader of the 112 set—an offshoot of the larger Hoover Criminal Gang—faces life in prison alongside her 10 co-defendants if convicted.
The criminal organization employed calculated recruitment tactics, using both social media platforms and direct street-level contact to identify and target minors, runaways, and foster youth experiencing financial hardship or emotional distress. Once recruited, victims were controlled through a devastating combination of false promises, drug dependency, and brutal physical and psychological abuse.
According to federal prosecutors, the gang forced victims to surrender all their earnings while maintaining control through beatings, verbal abuse, humiliation, and the deliberate withholding of basic necessities including food and affection. In a particularly disturbing display of ownership, several women were branded with tattoos bearing their traffickers' street names.
"The exploitation of vulnerable women and children through sex trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes our society faces," said Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell, highlighting how the victims were systematically preyed upon by individuals seeking to profit from their pain.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli described the operation as "the first step in returning the Figueroa Corridor, long known as prostitution haven, back to its residents who have suffered for too long while criminals were allowed to run amok."
This successful federal intervention demonstrates the critical importance of coordinated anti-trafficking efforts and underscores the ongoing need for organizations dedicated to supporting law enforcement operations that target organized criminal networks exploiting the most vulnerable members of our communities. So, a win for the good guys, but another reminder that we must remain dedicated to Saving Lives and Stopping Evil.
