Gang member pleads no contest to extortion

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- A 57-year-old Chino Sinners gang member pleaded no contest today to charges that he tried to extort a $1,000 gang "tax" from a parolee who had recently moved to Chino Hills.

Ruben Johnny Gonzales's plea was entered in West Valley Superior Court as part of a plea agreement that carries a 20-year prison sentence, Deputy District Attorney Carlo DiCesare said.

Because Gonzales had two strike convictions, he faced a potential sentence of 39 years to life if convicted at trial, DiCesare said.

"It's his record, plus he's trying to collect money for the gang," DiCesare said.

Gonzales is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10.

Gonzales was arrested in April after a recent parolee told San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies that Gonzales stalked him demanding that he "pay or play" -- either participate in gang activity or pay $1,000 for living in Chino Sinners gang territory.

The parolee had recently moved to Chino Hills from Arizona, where he served a prison sentence for burglary, according to a police report contained in Gonzales's court file.

As part of his parole program, the man was required to attend drug treatment classes at a parole office in Pomona.

During one of the sessions, Gonzales asked the man where he was living. When the man told Gonzales he lived in Chino Hills, Gonzales then made his demand for gang participation or payment.

The man told deputies that he refused because is not a gang member. Yet Gonzales persisted, and even came to the man's apartment twice and demanded payment.