Related Federal Cases
- Hoover Gang Members Convicted in Murder Retaliation Plot · Tennessee
- Three Hoover Gang Members Convicted for Rival Gang Murder · Tennessee
- Ghost Town Gang Members Charged in $900K Robbery Spree · California
- CDP Gang Members Accused of Murder · California
- Salinas Man Gets 54 Months for Armed Castroville Bank Heist · California
Salinas Acosta Plaza Norteños Gang Members Charged in Rash of Murders, Shootings
A federal grand jury has handed down an indictment charging 11 South Bay residents with taking part in a racketeering conspiracy to promote the aims of the Salinas Acosta Plaza Norteños (SAP Norteños) street gang.
The indictment, filed April 18, 2024, and unsealed today, describes a halting list of crimes including eight murders during the last five years, multiple additional shootings, drug and gun distribution, and other related crimes allegedly perpetrated by the defendants on behalf of the street gang.
“The allegations in the indictment, if proven, describe a group that has a wanton disregard for life and an extreme penchant for violence,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey. “The dozens of crimes outlined in the complaint describe a vicious gang that, for example, uses beatings as a hazing for membership and death as a penalty for trying to leave the group.”
The defendants, all 11 of whom are from the South Bay area, are charged under a single count of racketeering conspiracy. According to the indictment, the SAP Norteños are a street gang that originated in a Salinas apartment complex by the same name. The group is now recognized as a clique within the larger collection of Norteño criminal street gangs.
The 11 defendants are as follows: Gil Vasquez, aka “Rhino,” 35; Rigoberto Ramirez Jr., aka “Scooby,” 36; Sergio Hernandez Jr., aka “Mono,” 35; Juan Alvarez, aka “Yogi,” 38; Bertin Medrano, aka “Dre,” 30; Jose Mexicano, aka “Armani,” 25; Salvador Mexicano, aka “Jumpshot,” 20; Raul Coronel Suarez, aka “Ray,” 20; Gustavo Garcia, aka “Tatis,” 25; Lorenzo Garcia Jr., aka “Chito,” 30; and Jose Saldana aka “Chepe,” 19.
According to the indictment, members of the street gang “meet and work together” to carry out crimes for the benefit of the street gang, its members, the larger Norteño organization, and the Nuestra Familia prison gang. Crimes are perpetrated by gang members to protect and uphold its power, territory, and profits and gang members are expected to engage in shootings, robberies, drug sales, and other criminal conduct to gain entry into, and improve a member’s status in, the gang.
Indictment lists more than three dozen criminal acts that the defendants are alleged to have committed. The list of crimes includes eight murders, one that occurred in July 2014, and another seven that occurred between December 2019 and December 2023. The murder victims include people who defendants perceived were associate with rival gangs, transient men, and men perceived to have dropped out of the SAP Norteños.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Salinas Police Department this afternoon.
“The charges against the eleven South Bay residents signify a concerted effort to dismantle criminal enterprises and hold individuals accountable for their alleged involvement in egregious organized crime,” said San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “Thank you to the men and women of HSI, Salinas Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California, and partner law enforcement agencies for making today’s court authorized actions safe for all involved.”
Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
