Grimy Times Exclusive: Mario Cardenas, a 22-year-old Sureno Gang Member, was sentenced to 100 months in prison for his role in a RICO conspiracy and gun charges in California, 2017.
Cardenas, a resident of San Jose, pleaded guilty on February 22, 2017, to being a member of Sur Santos Pride (SSP) and to using a gun during an in relation to a crime of violence. According to the plea agreement, Cardenas was a member of SSP for at least five years from January 2009 through January 2014.
The objective of SSP was to have its members and associates commit acts of violence including murder, attempted murder, and robbery for the benefit of the gang. To carry out their violent crimes, the SSP gang regularly collected money for firearms for the gang. Like other Sureño gangs in San Jose, SSP pledged their loyalty to the Mexican Mafia prison gang and followed its directives.
Cardenas admits in his plea agreement that he participated in meetings during which money was collected so SSP could buy more guns; SSP members decided to extort local pimps for money and to use violence (including assaults with firearms) to enforce SSP’s demands for money, if necessary; SSP members collected money to pay as “taxes” to the Mexican Mafia; and gang members decided which people would hold guns for the group.
Cardenas was among 27 Sureño gang members in San Jose indicted on March 19, 2014, with various charges. For his part in the scheme, Cardenas was charged with RICO conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d); conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5); conspiracy to assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(6); and use and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Pursuant to his plea agreement, Cardenas pleaded guilty to the RICO conspiracy and § 924(c) charges.
The investigation leading to the indictment was part of the FBI’s crackdown on Sureño gangs in Santa Clara County. Fifteen of the other charged defendant have already been sentenced as reflected in the chart below.
Defendant
Charges
Sentence
JOSE DAVID SANCHEZ a/k/a “Joker”
Distribution of Methamphetamine
Sentenced on 10/21/14 to 77 months in prison
JUAN CHAVEZ
a/k/a “Dukester”
Distribution of Methamphetamine
Sentenced on 10/30/14 to 77 months in prison
ANDY LAMB LOPEZ a/k/a “Solo”
Felon in Possession of Firearm
Sentenced on 2/23/15 to 45 months in prison
MIGUEL MIRANDA
a/k/a “Payaso”
Distribution of Methamphetamine
Sentenced on 2/23/15 to 120 months in prison
MARIO GUERRERO
a/k/a “Lil Junior”
Distribution of Methamphetamine
Sentenced on 8/27/15 to 85 months in prison
FRANCISCO RAMIREZ a/k/a “Cisco”
Distribution of Methamphetamine
Sentenced on 11/2/15 to 46 months in prison
JORGE RODRIGUEZ a/k/a “Brownie”
RICO Conspiracy and VICAR Attempted Murder
Sentenced on 2/1/16 to 160 months in prison
RICARDO MONTOYA
a/k/a “Necio”
RICO Conspiracy and VICAR Attempted Murder
Sentenced on 2/1/16 to 160 months in prison
Related Federal Cases
- Akia Pete, RICO Conspiracy, California 2023 · California
- Julian Ruiz, RICO Conspiracy, California 2023 · Texas
- Canta Ranas Gang Members, RICO Conspiracy, California 2023 · Mississippi
- Alan Hostetter Convicted of Capitol Conspiracy, California, 2023 · Virginia
- Dejohn Wiley, Gun and Meth Trafficking, California 2024 · Massachusetts
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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