Category Archives: gangs

Gang members sentenced for Pico Rivera teen’s slaying

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NORWALK — A judge sentenced three gang members Friday for the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old Pico Rivera boy with no gang ties and the attempted murder of his teenage friend.
Norwalk Superior Court Judge John Torribio sentenced Michael “Whisper” Barrios, 30, of Pomona and Thomas “Soldier” Arellanes, 28, who was homeless at the time of his arrest, to 82 years to life in prison for the Nov. 1, 2010 slaying of El Rancho Robert Velazquez, 17, Pico Rivera2High School student Robert Velazquez of Pico Rivera in the 4000 block of Zola Avenue, said Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Brock Lunsford, who prosecuted the case. Velazquez’s friend, Ruth Rodriguez, escaped injury.
Fellow convict Enrique “Wacky” Medina, 34, of Pomona received a sentence of 42 years to life, Lunsford said. He is Barrios’ step-brother.
All three killers are members of the Brown Authority street gang, officials said. In addition to charges of murder and attempted murder, the jury also found true a special, sentence-enhancing allegation that the crime was gang-related.
The jury further found true another special allegation on the parts of Barrios and Arellanes that a gun was used in the slaying, Lunsford said.
“We got justice that was fair,” said Velazquez’s father, Jose Velazquez. “Now my son can rest completely, be in peace.”
“They’ll never hurt anyone else again,” the father added.
“I think this is a fair sentence,” the prosecutor said. “It’s obviously not going to bring Robert back to life, but at least there’s some justice being served. I hope this brings some sense of closure and peace to the Velazquez family.”
Robert Velazquez’s mother, Janice Rodriguez, also said she felt justice had been served for her son.
“As sad as it is, they got everything that they deserved,” she said. “I hope they feel remorse, I hope they feel sorrow and I hope they feel guilt for what they did, because they’ll have plenty of time to think about it,” Rodriguez said.
At the time of Velazquez’s killing, Brown Authority was feuding with another area gang, Pico Viejo, Lunsford said.
Velazquez was not involved with gangs, Lundsford said. “He just happened to be in a neighborhood that is considered Pico Viejo territory.”
According to court testimony, the killers were out looking for a rival gang member when they came across Robert Velazquez, who was standing in front of a home with a female friend.
In the hours leading up to the shooting, two men testified they were approached by gang members who questioned them about their gang affiliation and asked whether they belong to Pico Viejo.
When the men responded they were not involved with gangs, the gang members left after patting down their pockets and checking one of their arms for gang tattoos, according to testimony. One of the men identified Medina as the man who approached him prior to Velazquez’s slaying.
Velazquez was not confronted before being fatally shot, investigators said. One of the killers opened fire without warning from a passing SUV.
“Barrios’ SUV actually circled the block several times before the shooting occurred,” Lunsford said, likening the gang members to “a shark circling its prey.”
Janice Rodriguez said she often thought of her son’s young friend Ruth Rodriguez, who witnessed his slaying and narrowly avoided being shot herself.
“I just pray she didn’t get affected,” Janice Rodriguez said. “She’s so young.”

PHOTOS:

TOP: Defendants Enrique Medina, left, Michael Barrios, center, and Thomas Arrellanes, right, receive guilty verdicts in the drive-by shooting death of a 17-year-old Pico Rivera resident at Norwalk Superior Court on Thursday December 6, 2012. They were found guilty in the Nov. 1, 2010, drive-by shooting of Robert Velazquez , of Pico Rivera, and the attempted murder of his friend, Ruth Rodriguez, in front of her home in the 4000 block of Zola Avenue.(SGVN/Staff photo by Keith Durflinger)

BELOW: Robert Velazquez, 17, of Pico Rivera, was shot to death Nov. 1, 2010, in a shooting in the the 4000 block of Zola Avenue. Three gang members have been convicted of first-degree murder for the slaying. (Courtesy)

Man fatally shot while riding skateboard in La Puente

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LA PUENTE — A La Puente man died after being shot while riding a skateboard down a street late Saturday, according to sheriff’s officials and neighbors.
The identity of the shooting victim was not released Sunday pending confirmation that his family had been notified, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said. He was initially described as 35 years old.
He died at a hospital shortly after the attack, which took place about 11:15 p.m. on 2nd Street, just south of Main Street, authorities said.
“The suspects were last seen driving a silver Honda Accord,” Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said in a written statement. They were initially described only as three Latino men.
“Preliminary investigation seems to indicate that the shooting was gang related,” according to the sheriff’s department statement. “There is no further information available at this time.”
The killing was described in coroner’s documents as a drive-by shooting, MacWillie said.
Several neighbors said they heard a series of gunshots, followed by the sound of a car speeding away. Neighbors’ estimates of the number of gunshots they heard ranged from six to 12.
“There were 10 to 12 shots at least,” said on neighbor, who asked that his name be withheld for fear of retaliation. “Then I heard a car buzzing off. Zooming off.”
When the neighbor looked outside, he said he saw the wounded man lying in the street.
“He was awake, crying, saying, ‘Help me, I’m dying,’” the witness said. “It was really scary.”
But within a few minutes, the wounded man was no longer moving or speaking, he said.
Another nearby resident, who also asked his name be withheld, also said he heard the cries of the wounded man.
Before he was shot, the shooting victim had been riding his skateboard south on 2nd Street, he said.
The slaying came as a shock on what is normally a quiet street, the man added. “Thirteen years we’ve lived here. “Nothing like this has ever happened.”
The fatal shooting occurred about a block from La Puente City Hall, and about a quarter-mile away from the sheriff’s Industry Station.
While neighbors said they did not know the identity of the victim, several of them said they prayed for him, and were saddened to learn Sunday morning that he succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

Local, federal officials target gangs in Montebello

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MONTEBELLO — A task force made comprised of both local and federal law enforcement officers took part in a large sweep targeting gangs in Montebello early Wednesday, culminating a lengthy investigation that has resulted in the arrest of multiple murder suspects, authorities said.
Agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms joined Montebello police and other agencies in Wednesday’s raids, which came at the end of an investigation that’s been underway for several years, Montebello police Lt. Luis Lopez said.
Further details of the operation were to be released at a press conference late Wednesday morning.

UPDATE: Jury weighs death penalty for Pico Rivera pizza parlor killers

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A jury began deliberating Wednesday on whether to recommend the death penalty for two men convicted of fatally shooting three and wounding seven others outside a Pico Rivera pizza parlor in 2009.
Shiara Dávila-Morales, spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office, said a Los Angeles Superior Court jury on Friday found John Perez and Rudy Ruiz guilty of three counts of first degree murder, one count of conspiracy to commit murder, and seven counts of attempted murder.
The jurors found true the allegations that each personally and intentionally discharged a firearm and caused great bodily injury to the victims; that each defendant was a principal in the commission of the offenses; and that the crime was committed for the benefit of a street gang.
Davila- Morales said the jury also found true a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders.
The penalty phase of the trial began Monday, she said.
The jury began deliberating on whether to recommend a death sentence Wednesday afternoon. The men faced the possibilities of life imprisonment or death.
The case stems from the June 27, 2009 shooting at Falcone’s Pizza in the 9200 block of Slauson Avenue in Pico Rivera. Killed in the shooting were Carlos Carrera, 39, of La Habra, Garret Dandini, 25, of Whittier and his cousin Tony Dandini, 39, of Whittier.
Ruiz and Perez targeted a fundraiser at the pizza parlour under the mistaken belief that it was a meeting of members of the Mongols motorcycle gang, according to testimony heard during their preliminary hearing.
But instead, they fired at a gathering of the “Old School Riders,” a local motorcycle club which detectives said has no gang ties.

- Staff report

Officials: Rosemead gang member and wife arrested with pound of cocaine after El Monte traffic stop

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An admitted gang member from Rosemead faces a potential third-strike after he and his wife were arrested last week following a traffic stop in El Monte that led to the discovery of more than $20,000 worth of cocaine, authorities said.
Duong Che, 32, who is on parole for home-invasion robbery, and his wife Helena Hong, 30, of Rosemead, were booked on suspicion of possession of cocaine for sales and transportation following their arrests Thursday night, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials and county booking records.
About a pound of cocaine was seized in the bust, with an estimated street value of $20,000 to $30,000, sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Kim said in a written statement.
Sheriff’s gang investigators assigned to the Asian Gang Team pulled Che over for a minor traffic violation as he was driving with his wife as a passenger near El Monte Superior Court, 11234 E. Valley Blvd., Kim said. Deputies discovered Che was on parole, giving them authority to search him and his vehicle.
Several packages of cocaine were found in his pocket, and more packages were found inside the vehicle, the sergeant said. More than nine ounces of the drug were recovered from the traffic stop, and Che and Hong were arrested.
Kim said investigators then turned their attention to Che’s home in the 7400 block of Whitmore Street in Rosemead, Kim said.
“During the search, an additional seven ounces of cocaine, and other evidence of narcotics — such as scales, empty bags and cash — were discovered and seized,” he added.
As a potential third-strike offender, Che faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted as charged, officials said. He was being held without bail pending his initial court appearance.
Hong was released from jail Friday afternoon after posting $60,000 bail, according to county booking records.
Both Che and Hong were scheduled to appear in El Monte Superior for arraignment Monday.

PHOTOS courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

Two teens wounded in Covina shooting

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COVINA — Two teenagers were wounded, but expected to survive, men were wounded but expected to survive following a shooting late Saturday, police said.
A 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man were struck by gunfire in the 7:05 p.m. attack in the 1100 block of North Conwell Avenue, just north of Covina Boulevard, Covina police Sgt. Gregg Peterson said.
One of the victims was struck in both legs, while the other was wounded in the mid-torso, the sergeant said. Police declined to say which victim suffered which injury, citing the ongoing investigation.
They were standing near their parked car when shot, police said.
Police responded to a report of gunshots and found evidence of a shooting, but found no victims or suspects, Peterson said.
A short time later, the two wounded teenagers showed up at an area hospital, he said.
A silver Dodge Charger with after-market rims was seen leaving the area, officials said, however further suspect information was not available.
The wounded young men were believed to have gang ties, and the shooting initially appeared to be gang-related, Peterson said.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Covina police Detective Ryan Davis at 626-384-5620, or 626-384-5808.

Puente 13 street gang leader, brother, sentenced to life in prison

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LOS ANGELES — Two brothers accused of leading the Mexican Mafia-affiliated Puente 13 street gang were sentenced this week to life in prison as part of an ongoing investigation targeting the gang.
Longtime Puente 13 leader Rafael “Cisco” Munoz-Gonzalez, 42, of La Puente received his sentence Wednesday from U.S. District Court Judge A. Howard Matz, U.S. Department of Justice officials said in a written statement.
“Rafael Gonzalez was one of the most prominent Mexican Mafia members active on the street,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pelham said. The vast majority of Mexican Mafia members are currently behind bars.
Furthermore, Pelham said, Rafael Munoz-Gonzalez was not merely heading the 600-member street gang. “What he was trying to do with Puente was expand it.”
Cisco was determined to grow Puente 13 to grow beyond it’s claimed “turf” of La Puente, Hacienda Heights, Walnut and West Covina and unincorporated areas in between to include Bassett, Valinda and Azusa — which are already claimed by local street gangs.
“He was definitely going to war with Azusa (13),” Pelham said.
His brother, 38-year-old Cesar “Blanco” Munoz-Gonzalez of Rowland Heights, received his sentence Tuesday in federal court, officials said.
He took over for Rafael Munoz-Gonzalez while the gang leader served a prison sentence, Pelham said.
Since there is no parole in the federal prison system, the men are expected to spend the rest of their lives behind bars, officials said.
At the conclusion of a trial in December, the brothers were convicted of violating the Racketeer Influence Corrupt Organizations Act, along with committing violent crimes in aid of racketeering, engaging in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, weapons charges and other offenses, according to the DOJ.
“The evidence presented at trial proved that, among other criminal offenses, Rafael Munoz-Gonzalez ordered an attack on a witness who was cooperating with federal investigators in this case,” the DOJ statement said.
The attack took place in May of 2009 at the federal jail in Downtown Los Angeles, “where (the victim) was stabbed 22 times and beaten over the head, suffering a punctured lung and fractured skull,” according to the statement and Pelham.
While Rafael Munoz-Gonzalez was serving time prior to 2007, according to the DOJ statement, “his brother Cesar trafficked large amounts of methamphetamine with other gang members, spoke on his brother’s behalf at gang meetings, directed other members of Puente 13 to collect ‘tax’ payments from area drug dealers on Rafael’s behalf, and warded off rival drug traffickers by announcing that certain Puente 13 drug stash houses were untouchable because they were ‘protected by Cisco.’”
Rafael also picked up new charges while imprisoned between 2000 and 2007 following a methamphetamine trafficking conviction, Pelham said.
He participated in a race riot in which he stomped on the head of a black inmate, the prosecutor said. In the brawl, the Mexican Mafia had allied itself with the white supremacist Aryan Brotherhood gang against black rivals.
Also recently sentenced to lengthy prison terms after being convicted in December’s federal trial were two other Puente 13 members: Abraham “Listo” Aldana, 20, of West Covina and Michael “Mikey” Torres, 43, of La Puente, officials said.
Aldana was sentenced Monday to 27 years in federal prison, DOJ officials said.
“After Aldana was released from Pelican Bay State Prison in 2008, he became one of Rafael Munoz-Gonzalez’s most aggressive lieutenants, collecting tax payments and helping facilitate the conspiracy to murder and assault rival gang members,” according to the DOJ statement.
Torres received a 25-year prison sentence Feb. 26 after being convicted of racketeering, drug and gun charges. DOJ officials described him as a “key player” in the Puente 13’s drug trafficking.
“From at least 2000, all four defendants were personally involved in the manufacturing and distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine, and they used violence to monopolize the drug trade in La Puente and extract taxes from gang members and non-gang members who also sold methamphetamine in the area,” the DOJ statement said.
The sentencings stemmed from an ongoing federal investigation into Puente 13 launched in 2008.
As a result of the investigation, officials said, federal investigators have obtained four indictments, resulting in the convictions of about 60 gang members and associates. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigators working the case have also seized of 77 guns, 12 pounds of methamphetamine and $1.1 million in cash and other assets.

PHOTO of Rafael Munoz-Gonzalez courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office

Third suspect charged in Christmas Day slaying of Victor McClinton

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PASADENA — Prosecutors Wednesday filed murder and other charges against a second alleged shooter in the Christmas Day slaying of longtime Pasadena resident, community volunteer and sheriff’s employee Victor McClinton, authorities said.
Jerron Donald Harris, 25, appeared for an arraigment Wednesday afternoon in Pasadena Superior Court, though it was rescheduled for Jan. 23 in Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said. Another alleged shooter and an alleged accessory after the fact in the slaying have been in custody since late December and are also scheduled for arraignment Jan. 23.
Harris was arrested Saturday at a Gardena motel by members of the Pasadena Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Marshal, Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez said.
“The Pasadena Police Department is committed to pursuing predators who commit senseless acts of violence like this,” Sanchez said.
The arrest took place about 2:45 a.m., booking records show.
Investigators has been seeking Harris for more than a week, officials added.
Prosecutors filed the same charges against Harris that were filed against co-defendant Larry Bishop, 20, of Chino, last week in connection with the fatal shooting of 49-year-old McClinton, who police said was fatally shot when he was caught in the path of gang-related gunfire in the 1900 block of Newport Avenue.
They include murder with the special circumstances of shooting from a vehicle and committing the murder for the benefit of a street gang, attempted murder, two counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, Robison said.
“Victim McClinton was an innocent bystander struck by a bullet fired in a series of rounds toward Damion Taylor,” police said in a written statement. Police described Taylor as a Pasadena resident and gang associate.
McClinton was an 18-year Los Angeles County sheriff’s law enforcement technician who founded the Pasadena’s nonprofit Brotherhood Community Youth Sports League.
Taylor was wounded in the shooting, police said.
During the fatal Dec. 25 shooting, “Both (Bishop and Harris) allegedly fired,” Robison said.
In addition to the alleged shooters, Bishop and Harris, a third man also faces charges after being arrested on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact in the killing, though his alleged specific role in the slaying has not been released.
Police arrested Gary Aurthur Davis, 20, of Pasadena Dec. 29, according to police and booking records. Bishop was jailed Dec. 28.
Both Bishop and Darnell were scheduled to appear for an arraignment Jan. 23 in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Though a resident of Pasadena, Harris is also known to frequent Pomona, the chief said.
The fact that officers found and arrested Harris in Covina shows they were concerned about his potential to flee justice, Sanchez said.
While investigating the shooting, detectives determined two additional people had been inside the SUV Taylor was riding in when shot, but they had fled the scene before police arrived, according to the police statement.
Investigators Tuesday found one of those SUV occupants, a 16-year-old Altadena boy and gang member who is on probation, carrying a loaded handgun, police said. He was arrested on suspicion of being a minor in possession of a handgun and sent to the Eastlake Juvenile Facility in Los Angeles.
According to booking records, Harris and Davis were being held in lieu of $1 million bail, while Bishop, a three-time convicted felon, was being held without bail.

Peace rally planned in Pasadena on Sunday

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PASADENA — In response to recent increased gang violence in Pasadena, community and religious leaders plan to host a rally promoting peace Sunday.
The rally is to take place at 3 p.m. in front of All Saints Episcopal Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave., organizers said in a written statement.
Speakers expected to be in attendance include: Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez, Capt. John Benedict of the Sheriff’s Altadena Station, the Rev. Ed Bacon of All Saints and community leader Porfirio Frausto.
The rally is meant to provide a showing of peace, unity and strength, officials said.
Topics discussed will include restoring peace and hope, respect between law enforcement and community members and helping those who want to get out of gangs.
Gang violence is blamed for the Christmas Day slaying of 49-year-old Los Angeles County Sheriff’s law enforcement technician and founder of Pasadena’s nonprofit Brotherhood Community Youth Sport League Victor McClinton, officials said.
He was fatally struck by a bullet in the 1900 block of Newport Avenue, police said. It was believed that McClinton was an innocent bystander hit by a stray bullet from a shooting that left a 24-year-old man police described as a gang associate wounded.
Later in the day, a woman and an 11-year-old boy died after their car was struck by a fleeing SUV being pursued by an FBI agent and a Pasadena police officer.
Police and prosecutors allege the driver of the vehicle and his girlfriend, who have been charged with murder in connection with the fatal Christmas Day crash, are gang associates who threw a loaded handgun from their SUV before crashing. Family members have denied gang involvement on the part of the suspects.

Baldwin Park shooting victim identified; brother died in similar slaying in June

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BALDWIN PARK— Coroner’s officials Sunday released the name of a 22-year-old Baldwin Park man fatally shot inside a car in the same manner his brother slain four months prior.
Steven Reyes died at a hospital shortly after Friday’s 1 a.m. shooting in the 3800 block of Maine Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said.
Reyes was riding inside a car with another man and a teenage boy when they were fired upon by occupants of another vehicle, Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said.
The other man, also in his 20s, was also struck by gunfire and seriously wounded, officials said. A 16-year-old boy inside the car was not injured.
The car-to-car killing was believed to be gang-related, officials said. The vehicle driven by the attacker or attackers was described only as a dark-colored, compact car.
Two cars and a house were struck by gunfire during the car-to-car shooting, Corina said.
A handgun was found nearby where the victims ultimately pulled over on Paddy Lane, just around the corner from the shooting scene, Corina said. It was not immediately known whether the victims returned fire.
Steven Reyes 20-year-old brother, Guillermo Reyes, died following a strikingly similar incident June 25, officials said.
He, too, was driving in a car with another man when he became involved in a gang-related car-to-car gun battle while driving a stolen car in the area of Center Avenue, just south of Los Angeles Street, sheriff’s investigators said at the time.
After being wounded, Guillermo Reyes managed to drive himself to a hospital, where he was found in the driver’s seat with a gunshot wound to his left temple, MacWillie said. He was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later.
The passenger who was with Guillermo Reyes was arrested on suspicion of possessing an unregistered handgun, carrying a loaded gun and auto theft, officials said.
The case remains unsolved.
Anyone with information on either slaying was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, which is assisting Baldwin Park police with the investigation, at 323-890-5500.