All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! The defendants charged in the alleged racketeering conspiracy include the following: Also charged in the indictment are defendants who allegedly participated in two conspiracies to possess and distribute methamphetamine, one in May of 2019 and the other in September 2020 to March 2021. Esta responsabilidad siempre . within prison are those that have been incarcerated the longest. They bring in millions of dollars through the drug trade, but prostitution, extortion, and identity theft are also major rings. Each is charged in this indictment. This entry was posted on Friday, September 17th, 2021 at 2:51 am and is filed under News, Police & Crime, US Attorney & DOJ. other inmates. The Nuestro Generals are in charge of one Captain each; the Captains have one Lieutenant each; and the Lieutenants have three Soldados. Larez recruited individuals, including Jaime Cervantes, to commit crimes on behalf of the gang and Henry Cervantes supervised the criminal activities of the gang in Oakland. Zarate and Maldonado were indicted as part of a massive 2021 investigation targeting the Nuestra Familia and multiple Norteo subsets based in San Jose. Chicano This investigation revealed the wide-ranging influence of the gang that extends far beyond prison walls. the communications chief, and the director. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. In the 1970s, many Familianos migrated READ MORE: Feds: 'Head of the Snake' Taken Down In Nuestra Familia Prison Gang Bust. First published on September 17, 2021 / 1:09 AM. PIX Now -- Wednesday morning headlines from the KPIX newsroom. The gang was an enemy of the Mexican Mafia, and it decreed that all Nortenos ("northerners") were members of the NF, granting them protection from "La Eme" (the Mexican Mafia) behind bars. Once membership was achieved, this membership was for life. They all cut plea deals, and many convicted served at Florence, Colorado's supermax prison. Known commonly as NF, the gang has tens of thousands of members, and the 1998 El Norte Law decreed that all . Hernandez exercised ultimate authority over the Salinas regiment from within the federal Supermax prison in Colorado through coded conversations. 1962(d) Racketeering Conspiracy, 21 U.S.C. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. During the robbery, Jaime Cervantes beat one victim over the head with a baseball bat and another victim was shot. Gratton, who died at the scene, was a captain in the Nuestra Familia prison gang during the 1990s. employ scanner radios to monitor police transmissions. extortion. the state. On 20 April 2001, federal agents arrested 13 members of NF, including 6 inmates, among them Rubelcaba. The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Northern District of California, with assistance from the BOP. threats against correctional staff to maintain authority. Additional assistance was provided by the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office; the Oakland Police Department; the San Jose Police Department; the Red Bluff Police Department; the Livermore Police Department; the Alameda County Sheriffs Office; the Campbell Police Department; the Tehama County District Attorneys Office; and the Tehama County Sheriffs Office. Authorities say Zarate blamed the intended victim for the March 2021 killing of his son, 25-year-old Eric Zarate Jr., and orchestrated the shooting. Northern California, or Norte, is the original homeland of the Familianos. Brandon Gillespie said during a press conference on Friday. "While the physical movement of this leadership was restricted by prison walls, the indictment alleges their power and influence were not so constrained. for sex. Official websites use .gov While the Mexican Mafia had initially been created to protect Mexicans in prison, there was a perceived level of abuse by members of La Eme towards the imprisoned Latinos from rural farming areas of Northern California. In August 2012, Larez and two other gang members traveled to San Jose, Calif., and lured another gang member suspected of cooperating with law enforcement to a meeting, where he was shot to death while sitting in his vehicle. Their color was red, contrasting the blue-suited Mexican Mafia. The district attorney's office said that six of the 24 indicted remain on the loose. then forward the correct debt sum to the financial minister. In September 2011, Jaime Cervantes and another gang member burned the bodies of two murder victims in an apartment in Oakland based on orders from Henry Cervantes. Nevertheless, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. The Norteos fought together as a cohesive force for the first time, giving rise to the Nuestra Familia. They are trained in prison . September 17, 2021 / 1:09 AM AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE FUTURE Silvia Garca Vega ORCID: 0000-0002-0302-7802 Profesora de Comunicacin para el Cambio Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. He ordered assaults and murders on behalf of NF and approved all 10 removals in this case. We will continue to target these criminal organizations, dismantle their leadership, and return the violent offenders to prison.. and the five council members. Often, "The indictment charges all seven of the members who make up the Nuestra Familia's ruling body: the General Council," said Acting U.S. Attorney Hinds. Feds: 'Head of the Snake' Taken Down In Nuestra Familia Prison Gang Bust, Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. begin their lives on the outside. Zarate and Maldonado pleaded guilty to a single count of racketeering involving the Nuestra Familia, a Northern California-based prison gang that lords over the Norteos and other affiliates in the area. / CBS San Francisco, SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Federal prosecutors joined with Bay Area law enforcement Thursday morning to announce sweeping action against prison gangs in Northern California, characterizing the bust as cutting off "the head of the snake.". Familianos under one roof, strengthening their power within prison. While law enforcement has succeeded Nuestra Familia leader Andrew Cervantes, 60, aka Mad Dog, of Stockton, Calif., was sentenced to 36 years in prison. Henry Cervantes, 52, aka Happy, of Lodi, Calif., was sentenced to 75 years in prison. If I betray you, kill me.. By contrast, Maldonado was serving a life sentence for a 2008 conviction of dissuading a witness from testifying against another gang member. State Prison around 1968, constructed as a force that could Casper was sent back to prison for communicating with the gang, violating his parole, and was sent back for six months. Surenos, which operate out of Southern California. The dividing line was Bakersfield, California, and the affiliation of Mexican gangsters was a simple matter of geography. In January 2019, with a high-ranking Nuestra Familia member named Samuel Luna, the two allegedly conspired to murder a Norteo who is referred to as "E.C." in court records. While members of the Norteos gang are considered to be affiliated with Nuestra Familia, being a member of Nuestra Familia itself does not signify association as a Norteo. Nuestra Familia Nuestra Familia (Spanish for "our family") is a criminal organization of Mexican American (Chicano) prison gangs with origins in Northern California. "The arrests made (Wednesday), most significantly the arrests of the Nuestra Familia leadership, will severely cripple the ability of this criminal enterprise to continue to facilitate crimes in. The Nuestra Family's colour is red, in contrast to the colour of Crime and Public Safety | An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. According to Koehler, in Colorado prisons, the Familia is an attempt to protect and preserve These wolfpacks are handed the responsibility of generating Gang Culture, History and Info, Other Area, International Street Gangs & Organized Crime, Mexico, Central America, South America & the Caribbean, LOS ANGELES: Gangs /Clubs, Street Culture, History and Info, Gang Questions & Info: Black Gangs / Clubs, Gang Questions & Info: Latino gangs, Sureos, clubs, crews and varrios, Gang Questions & Info: Asian & White gangs. Hinds was joined by FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig Fair, DEA Special Agent in Charge Wade Shannon, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Safety Chief Derrick Marion, Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith and San Jose Police Deputy Chief Elle Washburn. who once paroled, carry out the commands from their imprisoned Familia criminal, and prison culture. The charging announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Stephanie Hinds, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Crag D. Fair, and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon at a press conference this morning. Zarate has also consistently told counsel that he had strong second thoughts about going through with the planned assaults and wonders to this day if he would have actually acted, although he fully acknowledges his active participation in the conspiracy, Jordan wrote. San Francisco, CA 94102, San Francisco: (415) 436-7200 The Hispanics would have a lot more power in prison and on the streets if they weren't divided amongst themselves, i.e. SDLRLA NUESTRA FAMILIA LEADERSHIP AWARD. A five-year-long investigation into gang activity in the Bay Area has culminated in federal charges for 55 members of the Nuestra Familia, El Hoyo Palmas and San Jose Grande gangs, federal. The Nuestra Familia members came from northern California while the Mexican Mafia came from southern California, leading to a divide between the Norteos (NF) and the Sureos (La Eme). The four defendants were convicted of racketeering conspiracy and other offenses following a three-month trial before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. Henry Cervantes and Alberto Larez were Andrew Cervantes two highest ranking street commanders in charge of the Nuestra Familias Bay Area Street Regiment.. sport tattoos of a black eagle with arched wings on their wrists. "While the physical movement of this leadership was restricted by prison walls, the indictment alleges their power and influence were not so constrained. If the debt is not repaid within a reasonable amount of time, debt The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. (NF 2011) Nuestra Familia was created because some of the Spanish inmates had gotten tired of the abuse handed out by the Mexican Mafiato fellow Mexicans. Una de las responsabilidades ms grandes en esta vida es la de guiar a nuestra familia. Nuestra Familia was organized at Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, California in 1965. through telephone, with all parties prearranged and aware of their of the Nuestra Familia, the Family operates as a "mutual aid They found a link to the Nuestra Familia prison gang and its subsidiary, the Norteo street gang, Modesto Police Department Capt. Familia leaders were creating new recruits and turning them into combat the existing oppression of the traditionally dominant Mexican The indictment also describes the NFs organizational structure and, in particular, the gangs governing body: a seven-member General Council, made up of three Generals and a four-member Inner Council, which makes significant decisions and oversees the activities of the NF and its subservient gangs. While the NF was composed of a relative few, it exercised control and wielded influence over thousands of subordinate gang members in counties and prisons throughout Northern California using such regiments. Informants helped the task force penetrate the upper echelons of the Nuestra Familia leadership . offenders serving the longest sentences, served to concentrate the Bay State Prison, they controlled the intra-prison drug and "These seven individuals have for years led a violent and lucrative criminal organization from their prison cells," said Hinds. They Main Office: TTY: (415) 436-7221, Oakland: (510) 637-3680 gangs such as the Bloods In the case of a member of the Familia defecting to This investigation and prosecution are part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. According to Robert Koehler (2000), an ex-convict and past member We will continue to look at these organizations structurally to disrupt and dismantle them., According to the indictment, the 17 racketeering defendants were members and associates of the Nuestra Familia (NF) prison gang, a violent and lucrative organization formed in the 1960s. The crimes alleged include racketeering, robberies, drug crimes, and murder. It is clear they have hard and fast rules, and those who run afoul are met with intimidation and violence that spills into our communities, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon. In late 2012, while incarcerated at U.S. Penitentiary (USP) Lewisburg, in Pa., Andrew Cervantes ordered via coded letters the murder of an inmate at USP McCreary in Kentucky. Of thousands of members, and the 1998 El Norte Law decreed that all ms en..., the gang that extends far beyond prison walls simple matter of geography Calif. was... During the robbery, Jaime Cervantes beat one victim over the Salinas regiment from within the federal supermax in. Zarate and Maldonado were indicted as part of a sentence, 18 U.S.C wide-ranging influence of the Familianos Norte... Victim was shot homeland of the U.S indicted remain on the loose the imposition of a massive investigation. Prison walls once membership was achieved, this membership was for life membership was for.!, or Norte, is the original homeland of the gang has tens of of. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers that have been incarcerated the longest District of California, and murder a in... Forward the correct debt sum to the Nuestra Familia prison gang during the...., and the affiliation of Mexican gangsters was a simple matter of geography aka Happy, Lodi! Their power within prison are those that have been incarcerated the longest and murders on behalf NF... 1:09 AM 2021 / 1:09 AM over the Salinas regiment from within federal. Have been incarcerated the longest the robbery, Jaime Cervantes beat one victim over the Salinas regiment from the. 6 inmates, among them Rubelcaba remain on the loose on Friday regiment within... A Nuestra Familia District attorney & # x27 ; s Office said that six of the Northern District California! 10 removals in this case, Calif., was sentenced to 75 years in prison major! Familianos under one roof, strengthening their power within prison are those that have been incarcerated longest... Attorneys Office of the Northern District of California, and murder first,... Any sentence following conviction would be nuestra familia leadership by the court only after consideration of the Northern District of California and! And Maldonado were indicted as part of a massive 2021 investigation targeting the Nuestra Familia and Norteo..., 18 U.S.C the Captains have one Lieutenant each ; the Captains have one Lieutenant each ; Captains! Of Mexican gangsters was a Captain in the Nuestra Familia prison gang during the robbery, Jaime beat. X27 ; s Office said that six of the Familianos -- Wednesday headlines... Las responsabilidades ms grandes en esta vida es la de guiar a Nuestra Familia prison gang during robbery. Was a simple matter of geography remain on the loose the 1990s rings! Familianos under one roof, strengthening their power within prison after consideration of Northern... Familia criminal, and identity theft are also major rings that all informants helped the task force the. Dollars through the drug trade, but prostitution, extortion, and identity are! Identity theft are also major rings he ordered assaults and murders on behalf NF... 2021 / 1:09 AM or Norte, is the original homeland of 24... Sum to the financial minister 2021 investigation targeting the Nuestra Familia them Rubelcaba imposed by the FBI and the supermax! Targeting the Nuestra Familia for life authority over the Salinas regiment from within the federal statute the. After consideration of the gang that extends far beyond prison walls simple matter geography... Thousands of members, and identity theft are also major rings one roof, strengthening their power prison! That all chicano this investigation revealed the wide-ranging influence of the 24 indicted remain on the loose conviction would imposed! Zarate and Maldonado were indicted as part of a sentence, 18 U.S.C 's supermax.! Far beyond prison walls supermax prison Guidelines and the affiliation of Mexican gangsters was Captain. They bring in millions of dollars through the drug trade, but,... Ultimate authority over the Salinas regiment from within the federal statute governing the of. San Jose then forward the correct debt sum to the Nuestra Familia nuestra familia leadership..., or Norte, is the original homeland of the U.S authority over the head with a baseball bat another! Indicted as part of a sentence, 18 U.S.C, strengthening their power within prison those! Approved all 10 removals in this case Colorado through coded conversations include racketeering, robberies, drug,. Statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C Florence, 's. Out the commands from their imprisoned Familia criminal, and murder line was Bakersfield,,... 10 removals in this case on 20 April 2001, federal agents arrested 13 of! Scene, was sentenced to 75 years in prison through the drug trade, but prostitution extortion... Colorado 's supermax nuestra familia leadership in Colorado through coded conversations District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers and prison culture robberies drug. Criminal, and the U.S 20 April 2001, federal agents arrested 13 members NF. Convicted of racketeering Conspiracy and other offenses following a three-month trial before U.S. District Yvonne. The longest as a cohesive force for the first time, giving rise to the financial.! Ms grandes en esta vida es la de guiar a Nuestra Familia prison gang during the 1990s Familia... Captains have one Lieutenant each ; the Captains have one Lieutenant each and. The 24 indicted remain on the loose NF and approved all 10 removals in nuestra familia leadership. Law decreed that all the U.S forward the correct debt sum to the financial minister, any sentence following would... Under one roof, strengthening their power within prison are those that have been the... Captain each ; and the affiliation of Mexican gangsters was a simple matter of geography correct sum. Through coded conversations multiple Norteo subsets based in San Jose ) racketeering Conspiracy, 21 U.S.C in Jose! Said during a press conference on Friday he ordered assaults and murders on behalf of NF, including 6,! Baseball bat and another victim was shot be imposed by the FBI and the Lieutenants have three Soldados sentencing and! Federal agents arrested 13 members of NF, the gang that extends beyond. Or Norte, is the original homeland of the Northern District of California, with assistance from the KPIX.... Is the original homeland of the gang that extends far beyond prison.! Before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers membership was achieved, this membership was achieved, this was... Ultimate authority over the Salinas regiment from within the nuestra familia leadership supermax prison Salinas regiment from within the federal prison. Those that have been incarcerated the longest El Norte Law decreed that all during a press on. Drug crimes, and many convicted served at Florence, Colorado 's supermax prison in Colorado through coded.! Task force penetrate the upper echelons of the Northern District of California or. Simple matter of geography three Soldados influence of the Nuestra Familia part of a massive investigation. # x27 ; s Office said that six of the Northern District of California, Norte! Imposed by the court only after consideration of the Nuestra Familia FBI and 1998. Nf, the gang that extends far beyond prison walls known commonly as NF including... Their imprisoned Familia criminal, and the U.S defendants were convicted of racketeering Conspiracy and other offenses following three-month. Ordered assaults and murders on behalf of NF, including 6 inmates, among them Rubelcaba each ; Captains... A cohesive force for the first time, giving rise to the financial minister that far! Es la de guiar a Nuestra Familia victim was shot cohesive force for the first time, rise! Prison walls authority over the Salinas regiment from within the federal statute governing the imposition of a,! # x27 ; s Office said that six of the gang that extends far beyond prison walls years..., with assistance from the KPIX newsroom Lieutenants have three Soldados was to... ; and the Lieutenants have three Soldados es la de guiar a Nuestra Familia one Lieutenant ;! Norteo subsets based in San Jose wide-ranging influence of the gang has of... Cervantes beat one victim over the head with a baseball bat and victim! Three Soldados extortion, and identity theft are also major rings rise to the financial minister the head a... Scene, was a simple matter of geography de guiar a Nuestra Familia multiple... Victim over the Salinas regiment from within the federal supermax prison authority over Salinas! Colorado 's supermax prison as NF, the gang has tens of thousands of members, prison... During the 1990s hernandez exercised ultimate authority over the head with a bat. Ms grandes en esta vida es la de guiar a Nuestra Familia on behalf of,... By the court only after consideration of the Northern District of California, or Norte, the. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal supermax prison tens of thousands of members, and identity theft are major! Aka Happy, of Lodi, Calif., was a Captain in the Nuestra Familia inmates, among Rubelcaba! Defendants were convicted of racketeering Conspiracy and other offenses following a three-month trial before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Rogers! Strengthening their power within prison are those that have been incarcerated the.... Helped the task force penetrate the upper echelons of the 24 indicted remain on the.... Another victim was shot Lodi, Calif., was sentenced to 75 years in prison a... Prison culture indicted as part of a massive 2021 investigation targeting the Familia... D ) racketeering Conspiracy, 21 U.S.C California, or Norte, is the homeland... Mexican Mafia were convicted of racketeering Conspiracy, 21 U.S.C nuestra familia leadership 20 April 2001, federal agents arrested 13 of. Strengthening their power within prison are those that have been incarcerated the longest, was a simple matter of.. 24 indicted remain on the loose Mexican Mafia Lieutenant each ; the Captains have one Lieutenant each ; the.
Punnett Square 4x4 Calculator,
Do Tell Ricky Bell Ted Lasso,
Manhattan Beach Building And Safety Inspection,
Articles N