Federal charges have been filed against 14 members of the La Familia gang. Many of those charged are high ranking members of the hispanic street gang.

Crack cocaine, heroin and deadly weapons seized are just part of a two year investigation by local, state and federal officials working to identify, disrupt and dismantle the violent street gang known as La Familia.

"This is a violent group, responsible for a lot of violent acts," says Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett. "The focus of the FBI Task Force is to deal with violence, and those guns vividly display the types of individuals we are dealing with."

In April of 2007, the gang was involved in a public shoot out in broad daylight on the streets of Holyoke.

"La Familia members encountered their rival gang the Latin Kings, shots were fired, numerous people hit, one person dead," says Paul Smyth with the U.S. Attorney's Office.

A scene investigators say will be repeated if the gangs high ranking members aren't kept behind bars. Members like David Marrero and Sergio Rodriguez who allegedly run the drug and firearm trade in Springfield's North End. And though these indictments will not take down the entire operation, officials say it sends a clear message to La Familia members.

"If you're polluting our streets with drugs, crippling our neighborhoods with violence, we know who you are and we're coming," says Smyth. "That's not a threat, it's a promise."

In addition to the 14 members listed in the federal indictments, another 23 are being sought by the state. Because of their status within the gang officials have asked that the suspects are not released on bail before trial.