LOS ANGELES, California — A convicted murderer and alleged gang member was arrested for illegally possessing body armor near MacArthur Park, according to federal authorities.
Michael Angel Alvarez, a 41-year-old known as “Diablo,” of Westlake, faces charges of possession of body armor by a violent felon, according to a federal criminal complaint. Alvarez, who law enforcement believes is an active member of the 18th Street gang, was reportedly working as a “Peace Ambassador” for Healing Urban Barrios, a Lincoln Heights-based organization contracted by the city of Los Angeles.
The Peace Ambassador program aims to prevent violence and support residents in crisis, as described on a city website. The city has allocated $450,000 from its general fund to support the program from June 2024 to May 2027. Alvarez was paid $58,156 by Healing Urban Barrios in 2025…