In a move to quash the persistent gang violence in South Los Angeles, City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto has filed a civil enforcement action targeting the proprietor of a notorious strip mall on the Figueroa corridor. The lawsuit levels serious accusations at the owner, Eric Ghayam, also known as Omid Ghayam, for harboring violent gang activities for over a decade. This property at 8501-8509 South Figueroa Street has become a veritable stronghold for the Hoovers gang, situated ominously across from KIPP Academy of Opportunity, a middle school.
According to a recent announcement by Feldstein Soto's office, the location had been the epicenter of multiple shootings, with a particularly distressing incident happening in broad daylight less than two months ago. "For far too long, this strip mall has been a magnet for crime and violent gang activity, with shootings, intimidation, and other dangerous conduct," said Feldstein Soto. Despite concerted efforts by the LAPD and the City Attorney's Office, Ghayam's compliance with demands to curb the spread of gang-related events has been, at best, partial and inconsistent.
Feldstein Soto's legal action, brought pursuant to California’s Public Nuisance Law and California’s Unfair Competition Law, aims to label the property as a public nuisance in hopes of eradicating the gang-related danger to the community. This court case, referenced by the docket number 25STCV29662, exemplifies an aggressive stance against property owners who turn a blind eye to criminal activities that endanger Los Angeles neighborhoods.
Over the past 16 months, the LAPD has documented a troubling series of shootings and related criminal activity at the property. Yet, even after numerous interactions with law enforcement, Ghayam only made some changes while failing to maintain others, resulting in an unchanged, dangerous crime landscape. As a city working relentlessly to restore the peace and security of its communities, such negligence cannot be overlooked. Feldstein Soto's suit clearly signals an increased resolve to deploy every possible legal measure in the battle for neighborhood safety. This lawsuit is managed by the City Attorney's Public Rights Branch.
Feldstein Soto, who made history as the first female City Attorney of Los Angeles, was elected to the role in 2022. Since then, she has steered nearly 1,000 legal professionals, including over 500 attorneys, in efforts to uphold the law on behalf of the city. This latest court action reaffirms her commitment to target criminal conduct and support the welfare of the city's residents.
