A top Escondido gang member was among the more than 100 people arrested Wednesday morning in one of the largest criminal sweeps conducted by local law enforcement officials in recent memory, authorities said.

They said Rudy Espudo, 39, of Escondido is a member of the notorious Mexican Mafia gang, who ran a criminal enterprise in North County involving several Latino gangs. Espudo was one of 119 people in San Diego County, and one of two Mexican Mafia members, charged with participating in a massive drug and firearms trafficking ring, authorities said.

Dozens of police, state and federal agents participated countywide in early morning arrests of 104 gang members and associates, including 48 in North County.

"Citizens woke up safer this morning than they were before they went to bed last night," U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said in a news conference in San Diego announcing the federal indictments. She was surrounded by representatives of various local law enforcement agencies, including the Sheriff's Department, San Diego County District Attorney, Escondido Police Department, Carlsbad Police Department and Oceanside Police Department.

The officers moved across the county in three coordinated operations, including Operation Notorious County in North County, and Operation Carnalismo and Operation 12-Step in central and south San Diego County, officials said.

According to the indictment unsealed Wednesday, Espudo controlled drug dealers from various gangs and taxed them on behalf of the Mexican Mafia in North County. The gangs include several Escondido, Fallbrook and San Marcos-based organizations.

"If they pay taxes, drug dealers are permitted to sell illegal drugs in the designated areas," according to court documents. "If a drug dealer fails to pay the required tax either directly to a Mexican Mafia member or to a gang collecting tax under the authority of a Mexican Mafia member, the drug dealer may be assaulted or robbed of his or her drugs, money or possessions."

The Mexican Mafia, also known as La Eme (Spanish for the letter "M"), is a relatively small gang of about 200 members, Duffy said. However, it operates a larger network of associates, soldiers and facilitators.

Associates are the members' "right hand," carrying out their orders and acting on their behalf when members are unavailable or in prison, Duffy said. Soldiers, also known as "surenors," are the people who run the day-to-day street operations, while facilitators are those who assist soldiers passing information and tax payments to members, Duffy said.

Espudo's wife, Angelina Chavez-Espudo, was among those charged by authorities. She coordinated Espudo's business when he was in prison, according to court documents.

"As far as Mexican Mafia associates and facilitators are concerned, Chavez-Espudo, also referred to as 'senora,' speaks for Espudo, and her directions are considered as if he were speaking them," according to the indictment.    

During the investigation, officers seized more than 14 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 250 grams of heroin and 4 ounces of cocaine, along with several guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition. In addition, they took body armor, five vehicles, Rolex watches, several designer purses, a diamond ring and two homes ---- and more than $150,000 in cash, authorities said.

Escondido police Capt. Bob Benton said 28 of the people named in the indictments were Escondido residents, including leaders of the city's Latino gangs.

"By far this is the most significant impact we've been able to make on our local gangs," Benton said.

On Wednesday morning, officers from several different agencies massed at Escondido Police Department headquarters. Among the agencies represented were Escondido, Oceanside, the California Highway Patrol, the Sheriff's Department, county probation and state parole.

Several Escondido residents called the North County Times and tweeted that agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Escondido police had raided nearby houses and apartment units.

Milton White, 88, told a reporter that at about 6:30 a.m., Drug Enforcement Administration agents raided a home near his on Ashford Glen. White said he believed the home was empty because its former occupant recently moved out.

White said he and other neighbors counted 18 law enforcement vehicles filling the narrow streets of the community of town houses.

Benton said the officers targeted more than 30 locations in the area. No one was injured during the operation, he said.

"It's a testament to the pre-planning and the hard work of the North County Gang Task Force," Benton said. "It was a great job that they did that culminated this morning."