In December 2000, another Nuestro General stepped in on Casper's behalf and Cuete backed off the hit order, but Casper wanted revenge. "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 . They talked about his location in a county jail, selected a hitman, and discussed how E.C needed to be hit on sight, according to a prosecution sentencing memo. According to the evidence at trial, Larez and two of his underlings traveled to San Jose, lured the rival to their location with phone calls, and then executed him with point-blank shots to the face and neck. Related Articles the communications chief, and the director. The sombrero and the dagger are also common symbols. While members of the Norteos gang are considered to be foot soldiers of Nuestra Familia, being a member of Nuestra Familia itself does not signify association as a Norteo. Marshal Service, with the assistance of the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office, and the San Jose Police Department, and with support from the Alameda County Sheriffs Office, Antioch Police Department, Campbell Police Department, Fremont Police Department, Kings County Sheriffs Office, Monterey County Sheriffs Office, Mountain View Police Department, Sacramento Police Department, Salinas Police Department, Menlo Park Police Department, Santa Clara County Parole Department, Santa Clara County Probation Department, Santa Clara Police Department, Santa Cruz County District Attorneys Office, Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Office, Modesto Police Department, San Francisco Police Department, the Stanislaus County Sheriffs Department, and Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. 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. Removals are approved in advance by the gang leader in charge of the facility. / CBS/Bay City News Service. 1, and the Netas. The receivers of local law enforcement agencies concluded what was considered the most significant effort to dismantle the Central Coast leadership structure of Nuestra Familia. Surenos, which operate out of Southern California. 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. His job was to make sure that San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland, and San Jose all had a regiment in place, and made sure that the regiments were going by the gang's rules. The main targets of the investigation including alleged members of the Nuestra Familias leadership counsel are still in federal detention awaiting a resolution to their cases. Familia members in prison at inexpensive or "face value" Pelican Bay parolees MONTEREY (CBS SF/BCN) A judge sentenced a high-up leader of the prison gang Nuestra Familia to over 25 years in federal prison Tuesday after being convicted of multiple gang violence conspiracies he perpetuated while in Monterey County Jail, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Because the process can take many years, only those convicted of Both men had support letters from their mothers. The Nuestra Familia (Spanish for Our Family), was created in 1968 as a response to increased pressure from the Mexican Mafia within the Californian prison system, the Nuestra Familia group is a mostly Mexican-American criminal . Huerta provided a vital communications link to incarcerated NF generals. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? The business In both instances, authorities knew of the plots because they were wiretapping the defendants phones, warned the victims and prevented the killings from occurring, prosecutors say. The Nuestra Familia is a prison gang that originally formed in the California state prison system in the 1960s. On 18 May 2000, NF gang member Casper (who was Rubelcaba's right-hand man) was released from jail and was ordered to run the street operations of the gang, becoming the leader of NF on the outside. Brandon Gillespie said during a press conference on Friday. However, despite law enforcement's efforts, there were still tens of thousands of NF members, and the new generation was influenced to join the NF through promises of girls, cars, dope, alcohol, good times, parties, staying out late, and other vices. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Of the 55 defendants caught up in the bust, 12 were from Santa Clara County. of the Nuestra Familia, the Family operates as a "mutual aid The perpetration of violence and other crimes was ordinarily a prerequisite to entrance, continued membership, and advancement in the organization. This is considered "welfare" The Family operates In the 1970s, many Familianos migrated 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 and Henry Cervantes were senior gang members who reported to Andrew Cervantes. The director oversees segregation. the state. Their violence was turned against those from Southern . Esta responsabilidad siempre . IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? Fair said arrests were made in Santa Clara, Alameda, Modesto, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Kern, San Francisco, Tulare and Stanislaus counties, with officers seizing bulk cash, dangerous weapons and narcotics. Authorities have identified a motorist killed in an auto accident Friday morning as a man who recorded a rap album that helped finance a prison gang before he turned police informant. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. within prison are those that have been incarcerated the longest. In late 2012, while incarcerated at U.S. Penitentiary (USP) Lewisburg, in Pa., Andrew Cervantes ordered via coded letters the murder of an inmate at USP McCreary in Kentucky. San Jose police arrested 24 Nuestra Familia gang members during a massive bust March 20, 2015. The . 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. "She wasn't performing duties the way the generals wanted," the investigator said. This award is not given annually, but rather is awarded when there is an individual who deserves special recognition for a lifetime of hard work and service to the San Diego and Latino community. The Nuestra Familia have a strong base in Northern California, Sonoma County, Mendocino County, Santa Rosa, Windsor, and San Jose. "The indictment charges all seven of the members who make up the Nuestra Familia's ruling body: the General Council," said Acting U.S. Attorney Hinds. Nuestra Familia were prison enemies of the Southern Latinos who comprised La Eme, better known as the Mexican Mafia. He's believed to be a high leader of Nuestra Familia. collectors are assigned to coerce or pressure the convict into paying. to upholding the cultural idenitity in the hierarchy of social, Even in lockdowns, NF members were able to communicate using fishing lines, and they could educate their friends about making crude weapons and using codes. Nuestra Familia (NF, Spanish for Our Family) was created in the late 1960's at the Soledad Correction Training Facility in California. Once membership was achieved, this membership was for life. other gangs. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. designed to convey a specific message: an eagle painted black means While the Mexican Mafia had initially been created to protect Mexicans in prison, there was a perceived level of abuse by members of La Eme towards the imprisoned Latinos from rural farming areas of Northern California. Assistant U.S. member of his own gang, top-ranking Salinas, California gang leader Michael Ukiah became a meeting place for gang leaders in March of 2000, 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. suspicious, and dedicated criminal organization, similarly committed This investigation revealed the wide-ranging influence of the gang that extends far beyond prison walls. The Facility, whose purpose was to house the more dangerous and violent You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. were reported by informants in 2000 to be instructed by their Familia Nuestra Familia is a prison gang that originally formed in the California state prison system in the 1960s. In compliance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requirements, some of these records are no longer in the physical possession of the FBI, eliminating the FBI's capability to re-review and/or re-process this material. homeland of the Familianos. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Mexico and El Salvador has received the most international recognition for street gang development as a result of US deportation, but other countries in South & Central America & the Caribbean including Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Domincan Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti [d'Hati], Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico [Estados Unidos Mexicanos], Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru [Per], Puerto Rico, Suriname, Uruguay, Venenzuela and many other islands in the Caribbean. READ MORE: Feds: 'Head of the Snake' Taken Down In Nuestra Familia Prison Gang Bust. other inmates. letter of the alphabet, as well as the Northern Star, and the 14 Catalog; For You; Los Gatos Weekly Times. 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 . His second-in-command Joseph "Death Row Joe" Gonzalez spent years on death row before he was commuted to a life sentence, and he had no patience for fools. 500 of their leaders are in prison, and tens of thousands of foot soldiers (Norteos) are also behind bars. manager, or "store" manager, is a level 1 member that group, and judging by their self-assuredness, ideological adherence, Todays sentences have a special significance in light of the courts findings that three of the defendants were among the highest ranked members of the organization internationally. for sex. United States and developed prominent ties in Colorado state prisons. While members of the Norteos gang is considered to be affiliated with Nuestra Familia, being a member of Nuestra Familia itself does not signify association as a Norteo. 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. Nuestra Familia is one of a constellation of race-based prison gangs that organize and direct the growing subculture of California's inmates. Nuestra Familia gang member Armando Frias noticed him in Cap's Saloon, but although he was on the hit list, he needed Casper's permission. The Nuestra Familia has a gang constitution called The Supreme Power Structure of Nuestra Familia that outlines the organization's goals, requirements, and expectations of its members. the neighborhood. 1962(d) Racketeering Conspiracy, 21 U.S.C. Evidence presented at trial established that from approximately fall 2010 through March 2013, under the supervision of Henry Cervantes and Larez, members and associates of Nuestra Familia engaged in the trafficking of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin and committed robberies to raise money for themselves and the gang. out its objectives by smuggling in money, drugs, messages, and women As the prison population has exploded in the past. Bay City News Service contributed to this report. and the five council members. Executive Leadership Dara Munson President and CEO Dara Munson, formerly CEO of Chicago Child Care Society since 2016, is a native of Detroit and past president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Detroit, past COO of Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan, and past senior director of United Way of Southeastern Michigan. The Familia Zarate has also consistently told counsel that he had strong second thoughts about going through with the planned assaults and wonders to this day if he would have actually acted, although he fully acknowledges his active participation in the conspiracy, Jordan wrote. He ordered assaults and murders on behalf of NF and approved all 10 removals in this case. Nuestra Familia is a major Norteos criminal organization based in northern California. San Jose: (408) 535-5061. Padilla, Nuestra Familia launches a reprisal attack on the Mexican Mafia at 2:30 pm. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI (San Francisco, Sacramento, and Phoenix Divisions), the DEA, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the U.S. Larez communicated with Andrew Cervantes primarily through prison phone calls and correspondence using coded language. Zarate was out of jail during the conspiracy, which made him more valuable to the gang, authorities say. 445). According to evidence introduced at trial, Andrew Cervantes used coded letters to order his fellow gang members to kill a fellow Nuestra Familia gang member for failing to uphold the rules of the organization. As outlined in the indictment, membership in the NF involved a process of sponsorship, approval, and indoctrination. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Guards become "Mules" when they assist the Familia carry By removing violent actors and crime drivers from the streets, we make our neighborhoods safer.. The indictment also describes the NFs organizational structure and, in particular, the gangs governing body: a seven-member General Council, made up of three Generals and a four-member Inner Council, which makes significant decisions and oversees the activities of the NF and its subservient gangs. The Norteos fought together as a cohesive force for the first time, giving rise to the Nuestra Familia. They The remaining leadership of the organization in Pelican Bay consists of Daniel "Stork" Perez, Anthony "Chuco" Guillen and George "Puppet" Franco. In 2010, Henry Cervantes and Larez were released from the BOP after serving sentences for racketeering conspiracy convictions in 2004 involving the distribution of controlled substances on behalf of the Nuestra Familia. By contrast, Maldonado was serving a life sentence for a 2008 conviction of dissuading a witness from testifying against another gang member. These wolfpacks are handed the responsibility of generating In an intercepted prison message, Nuestra Familia leaders explained that Crystal Morado was killed because she was no longer "functioning," according to a specialist who has investigated the gang for federal and state agencies for 15 years. Robert Lee Gratton, 44, of Palmdale -- who authorities suspect was driving while intoxicated -- was backing his Chevrolet Cavalier down Highway 14 north of Agua Dulce Road about 1:15 a.m. Friday, when it was struck by another vehicle, a California Highway Patrol spokesman said. . By removing violent actors and crime drivers from the streets, we make our neighborhoods safer." According to the documents unsealed today, La Nuestra Familia - Spanish for "Our Family"- was a prison gang operating in the California state prison system. A video tape was played at trial showing the man being stabbed 13 times in a cafeteria in a federal prison in Louisiana, shortly after the coded letters were written. 14 is the identifying employ scanner radios to monitor police transmissions. The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Northern District of California, with assistance from the BOP. SDLRLA NUESTRA FAMILIA LEADERSHIP AWARD. With the final objective being to take down the leadership of Nuestra Familia, multiple raids were conducted . Whether meth, heroin, coke, or pot, they control the drug trade by personally bringing in the drugs or by taxing drug dealers. In 1997 an FBI investigation revealed that top-ranking Nuestra The NF gang has a Mafia-like structure, with the three top Nuestro Generals being called "La Mesa" ("the table"). Nuestro General Gerald "Cuete" Rubelcaba ordered the assassination of former NF member Robert "Brown Bob" Viramontes in early 1998, a member of the leading council for the NF and a 20-year veteran who had covered up his NF tattoo on his back and also educated young kids about the dangers of gang life. In June 2001, Operation Black Widow ended, with 21 NF gang leaders arrested. Mafia. 3553. Nevertheless, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. 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. Familianos under one roof, strengthening their power within prison. In spring, Brown Bob was shot seven times in his arms, legs, chest, and back while watering his rose bushes, and he died in his garage. Nuestra Familia members Santos and Gilbert Arenda are stabbed by Eme members. Frias did not get the orders to not kill him, and a hidden security camera showed Frias shooting Sanchez in the back of the neck - Sanchez was killed, and he fell into the alley. Familianos are privileged in that they are only required to pay This case is being prosecuted by the Organized Crime Strike Force of the United States Attorneys Office for the Northern District of California. Most of them occurred in K-Pod, a cell block in the jail that housed Nortenos exclusively. 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 . According to the NF Constitution, the Street Regiment General oversees the NFs overall street operations. 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