Two Men Stabbed in Frenzied Attack in Dodge City
WICHITA, KAN. – In a shocking display of gang violence, 29-year-old Jason Najera, a member of the Diablos Viejos street gang, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempted murder.
Najera, of Dodge City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder in furtherance of racketeering. His co-defendant, Humberto Ortiz, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison earlier this year. Najera’s sentencing marks the end of a long and complex case that involved the federal RICO Act (Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) and VICAR (Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering).
On Aug. 27, 2011, Najera accompanied Ortiz to a residence at 703 9th Avenue in Dodge City, where they confronted two men they suspected of being members of a rival gang, the Surenos. Ortiz was a member of Los Carnales Chingones, which was associated with the Nortenos street gang, and Najera was a member of Diablos Viejos. The two men they targeted were Gabriel Rivera and Carlos Ramirez. A fight broke out, and Najera used a knife to stab both men. Rivera’s injuries were so severe that he required a life-flight to a hospital in Wichita.
Najera’s plea agreement admitted that as a member of the Diablos Viejos, he was part of an ongoing criminal conspiracy involving the Nortenos street gang, which used murder, robbery, assault, and acts of violence to protect and expand their operations.
The case against Najera and Ortiz was a result of a massive investigation involving the Dodge City Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Ford County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and federal prosecutors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch played key roles in the case.
U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom commended the law enforcement agencies involved in the case for their tireless work in bringing Najera to justice. The indictment marked only the second time federal prosecutors in Kansas have filed charges under the RICO Act and VICAR.
Najera’s sentencing brings an end to a complex case that involved multiple defendants and a web of gang violence. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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