Julian Ruiz Gets 17.5 Years for RICO, Gun Charges

Julian Ruiz, a 29-year-old from Salinas, California, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for his role in a violent racketeering conspiracy tied to the Norteño street gang clique East Las Casitas, also known as ELC. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Lucy H. Koh, includes a consecutive term for Ruiz’s use of firearms in furtherance of violent crimes that terrorized neighborhoods and targeted rival gang members.

Ruiz pleaded guilty on December 6, 2017, to two counts of racketeering conspiracy and to using or possessing a firearm during a crime of violence under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A), including aiding and abetting the same offense. According to court documents, Ruiz admitted to being a member of the ELC faction of the Norteño gang since at least 2006, participating in a pattern of violence that included murder, attempted murder, and robbery—all carried out for the gang’s benefit.

The most brazen acts occurred in 2009 during a one-month spree. On September 15, Ruiz hunted down a suspected Sureño on a bicycle outside an apartment complex and opened fire with a handgun as the victim fled. Weeks later, on October 3, after ELC members believed their hangout had been shot at by Fremont gang members, Ruiz kicked in the front door of a rival gang member’s home and opened fire. Two victims were struck—one in the stomach and shoulder, the other in the left arm.

A federal grand jury indicted Ruiz on October 28, 2015, charging him with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon, and firearm use in a crime of violence. The case emerged from the FBI’s broader crackdown on Norteño gangs in Monterey County, a long-running effort to dismantle entrenched criminal networks feeding cycles of retaliation and public fear.

Acting U.S. Attorney Alex G. Tse stated, “Mr. Ruiz and the East Las Casitas gang have committed horrible acts of violence against the public. This prosecution and today’s appropriate sentence will hopefully provide solace to the victims, their families, and the Salinas community.” FBI Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett added, “This sentencing is a testament to our dedication to get members of violent gangs and criminal organizations off the street and out of our communities.”

In addition to his 210-month sentence, Judge Koh ordered Ruiz to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Ruiz has been in federal custody since December 1, 2015, and will serve his sentence immediately. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Hopkins, Christiaan Highsmith, and Stephen Meyer, with investigative support from the FBI and Salinas Police Department.