Operation Royal Flush leads to the arrest of 77 people in the South Valley

HANFORD, Calif. (KFSN) — Armed with 52 search warrants and a commitment to making Kings County safer, the Sheriff’s Office partnered with more than a dozen agencies from across the state for Operation Royal Flush.

This joint operation began in September. To date, 52 search warrants have been executed, 77 people have been arrested and 32 firearms have been seized.

Three murders were also solved, spanning Avenal, Kettleman City and Corcoran, dating back to 2021.

Authorities say one of the murder victims was a bystander who was killed in a random act of gang violence.

In April 2021, police say 29-year-old Jonathan Sanchez was shot near Fifth and General Petroleum in Kettleman City. Four people are now charged with his murder.

More than two years later, in October 2023, Juan Carlos Alonzo, who was in a wheelchair, was shot dead in Avenal.

Just the day before the press conference, the Sheriff’s Office released sketches of two suspects in the case.

The two were arrested for the murder on Thursday morning, although their names have not been released.

A total of ten people have been charged in the case, including eight minors, all facing murder, firearms and gang charges.

Prosecutor Sarah Hacker said they are not surprised by the number of minors involved in the gangs, but there was one aspect that shocked them.

“What is surprising is that there are a large number of young people on the streets with ghost guns or guns without serial numbers and who openly trade these guns with other gang members,” Hacker said.

The most recent homicide occurred in December 2023. 31-year-old Charles Van Wolfgang Black was shot and killed in Corcoran at Whitley and Josephine Avenue.

To this day, a memorial stands at the corner of the intersection. The case moves closer to justice on Thursday, with three people charged with murder, firearms and gang charges in his death.

Two of them are already in custody on other charges. The third was released on parole.

“Many of the people involved were people who had previous convictions for a crime, particularly the murder suspects from Corcoran. All three were sent to prison and all three had previous weapons charges,” said Hacker.

Hacker and the Sheriff’s Office are hopeful that this operation will significantly disrupt the gun and illegal drug trade.

Hackers said they could keep most suspects in jail pending trial because the charges were serious.

She also said the passage of Prop 36 would allow them to impose more substantial penalties.

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