The latest RICO case against La Eme and Puente 13

What probably got the federal RICO case against La Eme and Puente 13 off the ground likely boils down to one paragraph in the federal indictment:

On or about July 3, 2006, in Los Angeles County, within the Central District of California, defendants GONZALEZ, BLANCO, S. NUNEZ, and A. TORRES willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation, unlawfully killed with malice aforethought D.D., in violation of California Penal Code, Sections 21a, 31, 187, and 189.

The read the complete indictment click here.

The big question: Did inestigators rely on snitches, undercover agents, wiretaps or all three?

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Puente 13 — suspected La Eme associates — arrested by feds

Eight suspected members of the Puente 13 street gang were arrested Tuesday morning by federal authorities in a racketeering and drug case.

The feds allege that the group was involved in violent crimes and selling meth to help fund La Eme — the Mexican Mafia.

The 22-count indictment names 17 defendants. Sixteen are charged with taking part in a RICO conspiracy.

“Puente-13, a street gang that was formed in the City of La Puente approximately 60
years ago. Puente-13 claims as its turf a large portion of La Puente, as well as
unincorporated parts of the San Gabriel Valley and portions of nearby cities such as
Hacienda Heights, Walnut and West Covina,” according to U.S. Department of Justice spokesman Thom Mrozek. “The gang is comprised of approximately 600 members and includes at least 14 subsets or ‘cliques.'”

Among those arrested was Rafael Munoz “Cisco” Gonzalez, the group’s alleged kingpin.

“Violent drug gangs continue to wreak havoc within our communities,” said Drug
Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Landrum. “Today’s
arrests send the message that law enforcement will continue to work together to take
back our neighborhoods and get violent drug traffickers and gangs off our streets.”

Four of the defendants in the federal racketeering case are eligible for the death
penalty because of their involvement in the 2006 murder of the rival gang member identified as David Dragna, 44, who was collecting taxes without authorization.
Arrested were Cesar Munoz “Blanco” Gonzalez, 36, of Rowland Heights, Steven “Flaco” Nunez, 30, in state prison, Angel Frank “Smiley” Torres, 34, also in state prison.

“Authorities are continuing to search for two defendants named in the RICO
indictment – Adrian Rodriguez, also known as “Trips”, 25, of Huntington Park; and Henry
Rick Zabala, 40, of La Puente.”

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Suspects in Mexican Mafia case appear in court

992-ringleader-thumb-300x384.jpg

A La Puente woman, accused of running day-to-day activities for the Mexican Mafia while her husband was in Pelican Bay, pleaded not guilty today to charges stemming from an alleged gang murder plot.

Maria Llantada, 44, and nine associates entered pleas in the case today. They were named in a grand jury indictment handed up June 13. All ten defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

The conspiracy charges involve two men who were “targeted,” according to the
indictment.

Those indicted include Maria Llantada, 44, of La Puente, whom authorities said last year ran the gang’s street activities in parts of La Puente, Norwalk and some surrounding areas.

Also named in the indictment are: Doreen Padilla, 25; David Sahagun, 26; Yvonne
Montes, 31; George Bravo, 40; Renee Lopez, 21; Ernesto Roacho Jr., 20; Angelita
Martinez, 37; Danna Stover, 33; and Antonio Palacios, 66.

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$10 million bail for ringleader in EME case

992-ringleader-thumb-300x384.jpgMaria Dolores “Lola” Llantada of La Puente is suspected of being the ringleader of an extortion and drug dealing ring taken down by Sheriff’s Homicide.

The mug comes from a pdf with several other mugs of those involved in the case. This was a handout from the sheriff’s department at the news conference Thursday in Monterey Park.

 

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Wiretaps used against Eme associates in criminal case

Apparently the case unveiled today involves six members of a criminal gang involved in a conspiracy to murder. Wiretaps were used to make the case.

The target was Rafael Gonzalez Munoz Jr. AKA Cisco noted as an Emero in the charging documents.

Named in the case are David Sahagun , Yvonne Colleen Montes, George Bravo, Anthony Palacios, Angelita Martinez.

They discussed meeting their victim at Margarita Jones in West Covina….

Another wiretap in the case took place at 307 south Vermont in Glendora.

More TK

some in the case are related to Jacques Padilla,  a man named by the cops as an Emero.  Another potential victim maybe in protective custody at Cochrane state prison. 

5:26 p.m. update. There is some confusion about Mr. Padilla’s nickname. We deleted it from the post.

5:29 p.m. update, sheriff’s used the nickname “Jocko”  when referring to Mr. Padilla.

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La Eme case connected to Whitehead murder

Visits by sheriff’s homicide detectives to Soledad Prison during their investigation of the March 2006 Robert Whitehead murder in West Valinda apparently opened up a whole can of worms for LA Eme.

We dont’ know the full reach of this but it sounds like it may be fairly extensive. Press conference on the deal at 11 a.m.

 UPDATE:

Here’s the sheriff’s press release:

District Attorney Steve Cooley, Supervisor Gloria Molina, Sheriffs Chief Richard Castro and other top sheriffs officials, will announce the arrests of numerous members of a street gang.
The arrests were made during the service of search warrants by a multi- agency task
force.

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