Known commonly as NF, the gang has tens of thousands of members, and the 1998 El Norte Law decreed that all . 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Summer Lin covers breaking news and general assignment for The Mercury News. [21] Other symbols include use of the number 14 or XIV, as the letter "N" is the 14th letter of the English alphabet. . The arrests made yesterday, most significantly the arrests of the Nuestra Familia leadership, will severely cripple the ability of this criminal enterprise to continue to facilitate crimes in communities throughout the state and help break a decades-old cycle of violence, said FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Fair. Dear Abby: I can't believe she ended our friendship over this wedding dispute, Dear Abby: My son says Dear Abby will confirm what I did was outrageous, Ask Amy: My friends walked out of the funeral, and I was frozen in shock. While all Nuestra Familia soldiers and captains in California are expected to follow the orders of Cervantes, a small percentage of the gang remains loyal to the former generals and captains imprisoned in Colorado. 3553. Is it better for Nuestra Familia to establish a code of conduct that each member can refer to, or better to go without a constitution to avoid one more opportunity for federal law enforcement to prove the gang is an organized criminal syndicate with clear leadership? The indictment handed down on August 25, 2021, and unsealed Thursday, September 16, 2021 catalogues a litany of crimes allegedly directed by the Nuestra Familias command structure incarcerated in California prisons. Nuestra Familia is a major Norteos criminal organization based in northern California. Lexipol. May 5, 2014 1:49 PM PT. Further, the indictment describes the appointment by these leaders of NF members to positions of power over hierarchical and paramilitary structures called regiments, imposed on its gang members operating on the streets in California. All were indicted for racketeering charges. The perpetration of violence and other crimes was ordinarily a prerequisite to entrance, continued membership, and advancement in the organization. All seven members of the NFs General Council led the NF organization while incarcerated in the California prison system. Feds: 'Head of the Snake' Taken Down In Nuestra Familia Prison Gang Bust, Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. Pacifica: Suspect sought in indecent exposure incident, Fremont: Two-alarm apartment fire displaces 85 residents, They spent their lives teaching California's children. 846, 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B) Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Lexipol. The indictment handed down onAugust 25, 2021, and unsealed today, catalogues a litany of crimes allegedly directed by the Nuestra Familias command structure incarcerated in California prisons. Two of the defendants face the death penalty for ordering murders related to the drug trade. Maldonados mother wrote to the court that he entered the prison system as an immature young man and has been affected by prison life. The NF is alleged in the indictment to be a criminal enterprise that was created to organize, protect, discipline, profit from, and maintain the allegiance of gang members on the streets of and within custodial facilities in California. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. DOJ NF indictment 082521, The indictment charges all seven of the members who make up the Nuestra Familias ruling body: the General Council, said Acting U.S. Attorney Hinds. He's believed to be a high leader of Nuestra Familia. We will continue to look at these organizations structurally to disrupt and dismantle them., According to the indictment, the 17 racketeering defendants were members and associates of the Nuestra Familia (NF) prison gang, a violent and lucrative organization formed in the 1960s. This civil war has been going on for quite a while, almost since the Black Widow convictions, said Julie Reynolds, a journalist who authored the book Blood in the Fields about the Black Widow case. Northern District of California Today, four additional members of the Nuestra Familia gang were sentenced for the heinous crimes they perpetrated upon our community, bringing to 12 the number of defendants sentenced as a result of this investigation, said U.S. Attorney Brian J. "The arrests made yesterday, most significantly the arrests of the Nuestra Familia leadership, will severely cripple the ability of this criminal enterprise to continue to facilitate crimes in communities throughout the state and help break a decades-old cycle of violence," said FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Fair. In June 2021, Zarate was arrested and charged with murder for his alleged participation in a retaliatory shooting in San Jose. Zarate was out of jail during the conspiracy, which made him more valuable to the gang, authorities say. [1] In the late 1960s, Mexican-American inmates of the California state prison system began to separate into two rival groups, Nuestra Familia[14] and the 1957-formed Mexican Mafia, according to the locations of their hometowns (the north-south dividing line is Bakersfield, California). According to the indictment, NF members and associates were involved in plots to kill 14 victims between April 2013 and July 2019 as part of the charged racketeering conspiracy. / CBS/Bay City News Service. Robert Salonga is a Bay Area News Group reporter who covers criminal justice and public safety for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. The Nuestra Familia was not recognized as a prison gang by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation until 1979. The Nuestra Familia have a strong base in Northern California, Sonoma County, Mendocino County, Santa Rosa, Windsor, and San Jose. A lock ( Son cuatro pilares para sanar, trascender y de los cuales tomar los dones y la fuerza para la vida. The availability and accuracy of information is largely dependent on various public sources from which the information is aggregated. Like other major prison gangs, including the Aryan Brotherhood and the Mexican Mafia, Nuestra Familia issues orders from its power base in the Security Housing Unit of Pelican Bay. [18] The spark that led to the ongoing war between Nuestra Familia and members of the Mexican Mafia involved a situation in 1965 in which a member of La eMe stole a pair of shoes from a Northerner at Deuel Vocational Institute in Tracy. SAN JOSE A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging 17 defendants with racketeering conspiracy, including acts involving murder, robbery, drug trafficking, and money laundering, and charging five others with drug trafficking-related crimes. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. Also appearing at the press conference were Chief of the Office of Correctional Safety for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Derrick Marion, Santa Clara Sheriff Laurie Smith, and San Jose Deputy Chief of Police Elle Washburn. Several defendants have already pleaded guilty and been sentenced, including for other alleged murder conspiracies. Nuestra Familia's new leadership General: David "DC" Cervantes Top Commanders: Daniel "Stork" Perez, of Salinas; Anthony "Chuco" Guillen, of San Jose; George "Puppet" Franco, of San Jose Demoted: Jose "Huerito" Gonzalez; James "Conejo" Perez Copyright 2008 Monterey County Herald. OAKLAND Two members of the Nuestra Familia prison gang have been sentenced to varying federal prison terms for their roles in the same two murder conspiracies targeting lower-tier members of their organized crime network, court records show. Additionally, prosecutors describe Zarate as a high level heroin and cocaine trafficker who also collected thousands in dues for the gang. The response they received included much information about how Nuestra Familia leaders, direct underlings to perform home invasions, enhance drug profits, and even commit murder. He previously reported in Washington, D.C., Salinas and the East Bay, and is a middling triathlete. Harriette Cole: I never asked him to solve my problems but he won't back off, Gunmen storm Mexican resort, kill 7 people, including a child, California is changing how it goes after illegal cannabis farms, Caught off guard: How South Floridas rare storm compares to others, and where it sits in history, The final encore for Phantom: What the show means to one New Yorker who saw it dozens of times, For Varland brothers, now both in the MLB at same time, a dream come true, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. She previously covered D.C. politics and California lawsuits for McClatchy's publications, including the Sacramento Bee, as a national real-time reporter. Nuestra Familia gang initiation rites include blood in, blood out which means committing a bloody crime such as assault or murder in order to join or leave the gang. Provided by FBI San Francisco/. Members of the organization are considered to have taken a "blood oath" to join the gang, and are considered lifelong participants. [14] Thirteen of the defendants pleaded guilty; the other cases are still ongoing. San Jose: (408) 535-5061. Miss Manners: People look when I drive down the street. By contrast, Maldonado was serving a life sentence for a 2008 conviction of dissuading a witness from testifying against another gang member. This event put into motion the longest-running gang war in the state of California. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. All rights reserved. 1962(d) Racketeering Conspiracy, 21 U.S.C. Parts of the constitution read No member of this O shall put material things, whether it be drugs, money, women, or punks (as related to the pinta) before the best interest of La Nuestra Familia or a familianos and that No familiano shall lie about his position in La Nuestra Familia when discussing familianos business to a superior or a brother member.. The beating by the bombers inflicted further injury to the stabbed target and continued the attack's "chaotic distraction" at the jail, which allowed time for the hitters to hide their weapons and wash off, prosecutors said. The murder was committed in retaliation for the attacks on the Arenda brothers. SAN FRANCISCO -- Twenty-five members of the Nuestra Familia prison gang, including its 'general' and 'first captain,' have been indicted on conspiracy and racketeering charges -- including. Crime and Public Safety | Nuestra Familia are prison enemies of the Southern chicanos who consisted of La eMe, better known as the Mexican Mafia. The next rung of leaders in Pelican Bay includes Daniel "Stork" Perez of Salinas; Anthony "Chuco" Guillen of San Jose, who was involved in the murder of a Nuestra Familia member there and is serving a 25-year sentence; and George "Puppet" Franco, 39, from San Jose, responsible for the gang's activities in Stockton, Tracy and Fresno. It was not immediately disclosed how many of the 19 remaining defendants were arrested in the law-enforcement sweeps this week. drug trafficking and other criminal activity. In the span of just over one year, Jaime Cervantes participated in three armed robberies on behalf of the gang, and stabbed a rival at the direction of his carnal Larez. Copyright 2023 How can I seem modest? Zarates mom described him as a devoted son, father, grandfather, brother, and more who has learned from his mistakes. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). If I fall, avenge me. Copyright 2023 Police1. These regiments primarily guaranteed the NFs vast influence and control over its own and its street gang members, ensured avenues to direct violence and other illicit activity, and secured means for the NF to make money through the commission of criminal activity. This organizational structure reinforces the dominance of the master gangs and allows them to take a significant portion of profits from drug trafficking and other criminal activity that takes place at the street level. Nuestra Familia are prison enemies of the Southern chicanos who consisted of La eMe, better known as the Mexican Mafia. It is with gratitude and appreciation that we congratulate the FBI, the Bureau of Prisons, and the scores of local law enforcement officials who have brought this 6-year investigation to a successful conclusion., Criminal enterprises like the Nuestra Familia may spawn in prisons, but they often spread into our communities and onto our streets, bringing violence and mayhem with them, said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. When compared with the enormous growth of California's prison industry, the effect of the Nuestra Familia trials in San Jose -- and a recent federal prosecution of the Mexican Mafia -- are hard to . Nevertheless, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. 846, 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B) Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. One such order last year told Norte-os across Northern California to clean the streets of Sure-os. How are the Nuestra Familia Gang and the Norteos Gang Related. [21] Women are not allowed to become full-fledged members of Nuestra Familia, but are sometimes used for communication and drug-running purposes as they are considered less likely to be noticed by law enforcement agents. Crime and Public Safety | Gunmen storm Mexican resort, kill 7 people, including a child, California is changing how it goes after illegal cannabis farms, Caught off guard: How South Floridas rare storm compares to others, and where it sits in history, The final encore for Phantom: What the show means to one New Yorker who saw it dozens of times, For Varland brothers, now both in the MLB at same time, a dream come true, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The charging announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Stephanie Hinds, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Crag D. Fair, and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon at a press conference this morning. READ MORE: Feds: 'Head of the Snake' Taken Down In Nuestra Familia Prison Gang Bust. By removing violent actors and crime drivers from the streets, we make our neighborhoods safer.. "He's trying to regroup these guys. The danger of having a written constitution has to be weighed against the difficulty controlling a widespread criminal operation without one. That the gang should be the dominant concern in the individual members life, ahead of family and personal concerns. SAN JOSE - A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging 17 defendants with racketeering conspiracy, including acts involving murder, robbery, drug trafficking, and money laundering, and charging five others with drug trafficking-related crimes. The perpetration of violence and other crimes was ordinarily a prerequisite to entrance, continued membership, and advancement in the organization. Garcia was "regiment commander" for the gang in charge of all Monterey County and he controlled the criminal activities of gang members in the jail. This investigation revealed the wide-ranging influence of the gang that extends far beyond prison walls. The Nuestra Familia prison gang formed in the early 1960s when Hispanic inmates from Northern California created their own gang in response to mistreatment by Los-Angeles based gangs under the Mexican Mafia umbrella. According to the NF Constitution, the Street Regiment General oversees the NFs overall street operations. The General of the Prisons is responsible for the NFs overall pinta [prison] functions, and the General Advocates Office is the NFs justice department. Tiered just below these three NF Generals was the Inner Council, which consisted of four senior NF members who served as advisors to the Generals and provided a system of checks and balances. Nuestra Familia is a prison gang that originally formed in the California state prison system in the 1960s. "Today's operation strikes a substantial blow to Nuestra Familia leadership. It is clear they have hard and fast rules, and those who run afoul are met with intimidation and violence that spills into our communities, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Wade R. Shannon. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Lock While members of the Norteos gang are considered to be affiliated with Nuestra Familia, being a member of Nuestra Familia itself does not signify association as a Norteo. By disrupting gang leadership, we reduce violence on our streets. Roy Morales. DOJ Nuestra Familia indictment info 082521, NF Areas of Criminal Influence map FBI SF. Now, nearly all Norte-o soldiers and Nuestra Familia regiment captains across California answer to Cervantes, gang experts say, but re-establishing the gang's control over the streets has not been easy. An official website of the United States government. OAKLAND Four members of the Nuestra Familia criminal organization including the top gang leader were sentenced to federal prison today for racketeering, murders, robberies, drug offenses, and related acts announced U.S. Attorney Brian J. If I betray you, kill me.. If I fall, avenge me. Oregon,[6] Texas, Utah,[7] Washington[8] [19], Since the written constitution of the Norteos stated that the gang's leaders resided in Pelican Bay State Prison in California; the relocation of the five leaders led to turmoil among its members. Miss Manners: People look when I drive down the street. This process has allowed Nuestra Familia and other gangs to flourish across the country. . The indictment outlines that the Nuestra Familia used hierarchical and paramilitary structures to control thousands of California gang members and counties across Northern California even while most of the top leadership was incarcerated.. While the NF was composed of a relative few, it exercised control and wielded influence over thousands of subordinate gang members in counties and prisons throughout Northern California using such regiments. Mexico, Nuestra Familia (Spanish for "our family") is a criminal organization of Mexican American (Chicano) prison gangs with origins in Northern California. For the first time in decades, one man sits alone at the helm of the criminal organization that for more than 30 years has called the shots for thousands of Norte-o gang members in the Salinas Valley. The three Generals of the gangs leadership council were identified as David DC Cervantes, Antonio Chuco Guillen, and James Conejo Perez. Alberto Larez, 48, aka Bird, of Salinas, Calif., was sentenced to life plus ten years in prison; Jaime Cervantes, 33, aka Hennessy, of San Mateo, Calif., was sentenced to 32 years in prison. How can I seem modest? SAN JOSE - A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging 17 defendants with racketeering conspiracy, including acts involving murder, robbery, drug trafficking, and money laundering, and charging five others with drug trafficking-related crimes. Two Northern California Nuestra Familia members, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Two Northern California Nuestra Familia members sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to murder Norteos, Letters: Recall DA | Feinsteins job | Tax-free retirement | IRA funds | Gun control | US oil, Former Stanford University employee arraigned on charges of lying about rapes that shook campus, Man convicted in fatal shooting of his uncle in Pinole, Stabbing victim left outside Oakland hospital, Murder trial of reputed Oakland gang member delayed amid dispute over judge. The charges pending against these defendants are as follows: The court also may order additional terms of supervised release, fines, and restitution. The gang was an enemy of the Mexican Mafia, and it decreed that all Nortenos ("northerners") were members of the NF, granting them protection from "La Eme" (the Mexican Mafia) behind bars. As outlined in the indictment, membership in the NF involved a process of sponsorship, approval, and indoctrination. [21] Nuestra Familia's written constitution allegedly states that no member should prioritize women, money or drugs over their membership in the gang. And though prison officials recently reorganized the housing in a way that slows down gang communications, coded directives are still smuggled out that translate to violence in California cities and farm towns. Man convicted in fatal shooting of his uncle in Pinole Federal Courthouse This investigation revealed the wide-ranging influence of the gang that extends far beyond prison walls. The Bay Areas top federal prosecutor announced a sweeping array of indictments targeting the notorious Nuestra Familia prison gang, boasting that a five-year operation had culminated in a takedown of the organizations leadership responsible for an expanse of drug trafficking and brutal street violence spanning Northern California. Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmfniTEvnOdU5WT76-TouOQ/join San Francisco, CA 94102, San Francisco: (415) 436-7200 En la declaracin de impuestos final, el cnyuge sobreviviente o representante debe anotar que la persona falleci. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Initiation to Nuestra Familia gang may also include a lengthy and painful beating from fellow members. Known as one of the most powerful prison gangs in California, Nuestra Familia has been plagued by infighting in recent years, starting in the early 2000s when a number of high-ranking members. Bay City News Service contributed to this report. Federal Courthouse An official website of the United States government. Copyright 2023 Eight co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and other offenses and were sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from eight to 15 years. Larez recruited individuals, including Jaime Cervantes, to commit crimes on behalf of the gang and Henry Cervantes supervised the criminal activities of the gang in Oakland. That leaves Cervantes, who has always kept a keen eye on Salinas affairs, firmly in control as the organization's only general. While the NF was composed of a relative few, it exercised control and wielded influence over thousands of subordinate gang members in counties and prisons throughout Northern California using such regiments. In spite of his situation, he has remained positive and optimistic, she wrote. Following a series of raids Wednesday, prosecutors have charged 55 people, including seven in Northern California prisons, a group described as the governing body of the Nuestra Familia prison. 1962(d) Racketeering Conspiracy. Californias Hispanic gangs are divided geographically into northerners and southerners, called Norteos and Sureos. Three leaders soon emerged at Pelican Bay, filling the ranks of the gang's mesa, or board of directors: David "DC" Cervantes of Chino, Jose "Huerito" Gonzalez and James "Conejo" Perez. Wife of Nuestra Familia Gang Leader Pleads Guilty in Ongoing Nuestra Familia Drug Trafficking Prosecution U.S. Attorney's Office March 25, 2013 Eastern District of California (916) 554-2700 But copies were intercepted in Pelican Bay, giving investigators a heads-up about the leadership changes. Nuestra Familia's new leadership General: David "DC" Cervantes Top Commanders: Daniel "Stork" Perez, of Salinas; Anthony "Chuco" Guillen, of San Jose; George "Puppet" Franco, of San Jose Demoted: Jose "Huerito" Gonzalez; James "Conejo" Perez Copyright 2008 Monterey County Herald Copyright 2013 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. "DC Cervantes is calling the shots," said J.R. Auten, a former gang investigator for state prisons and now a consultant for federal and state law enforcement. The indictment alleges an NF oath provides: If I lead, follow. Northern District of California The evidence presented during the trial included proof of the defendants involvement in several gang-related murders and attacks including the following: Todays sentencing marks the culmination of a six-year investigation and prosecution of Nuestra Familia, which resulted in the convictions of 12 members and associates of the gang. If I stumble, push me. 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