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Nuestra Familia Leader Sentenced for Racketeering Conspiracy
A notorious leader of the Nuestra Familia prison gang has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in a racketeering conspiracy. Gary Anthony Romero, 50, of Stockton, California, was sentenced on April 11, and today, Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill handed down sentences to Joe Anthony Felix, 36, of Modesto, California, to 151 months imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy, and Jesus Gomez Felix, 32, of Modesto, to 30 months imprisonment for Assault With a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering.
According to court documents, Romero has been a member of Nuestra Familia for about 20 years and has reached one of the highest levels of authority in the gang. He ordered various crimes to be committed for the benefit of the gang in Stanislaus County, including aggravated assaults, robberies, and drug dealing. Romero also directed a gang member to set up subsets of the gang throughout Stanislaus County to collect money from members, including from their drug trafficking activities.
Joe Felix, a Norteno gang member, provided direction to other Nortenos to commit various crimes, including attempted murder and drug trafficking in Modesto. He participated in an assault of two individuals who had dropped out of the gang, resulting in one victim suffering a fractured orbital bone and injury to his eye. Felix also profited from the drug trafficking operation.
Jesus Felix went armed to the assault of the two gang drop-outs and exchanged gunfire with someone from the opposing side. No one was shot. The case was investigated by the Central Valley Gang Impact Task Force under the FBI’s Safe Streets Initiative, with the assistance of several local law enforcement agencies.
The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Louis A. Crisostomo and Kelly Pearson of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly A. Sanchez and Laurel J. M. The sentences handed down today are a significant blow to the Nuestra Familia gang and demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement to disrupting and dismantling these violent organizations.
“I would like to thank the United States Department of Justice and the hard work of the federal prosecutors who prosecuted this case,” said District Attorney Birgit Fladager for Stanislaus County. “We will remain committed to working collaboratively with our federal partners to pursue criminal gang members who commit violent crimes and pose a threat to the citizens of Stanislaus County.”
Joe Felix is also to serve 60 months of supervised release on the instant matter, and nine months imprisonment consecutive on a supervised release violation on a 2004 case. Jesus Felix is to serve three years of supervised release. The sentences serve as a reminder that gang activity will not be tolerated and those who engage in such behavior will be brought to justice.”
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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