Mexican mafia bust (btw, article mentions nsr and vrls)

Early morning San Bernardino County raid targets Mexican Mafia members

Stacia Glenn, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/25/2009 09:28:49 PM PDT

An investigation into Mexican Mafia members selling cocaine and methamphetamine in San Bernardino and Redlands culminated Thursday with 88 alleged members being charged and about a third being rounded up during an early morning raid.
Federal prosecutors unsealed an 18-count indictment that details how they believe Janet Hernandez, wife of incarcerated Mexican Mafia shotcaller Salvador Hernandez, controlled drug sales in her husband's stead.

She is accused of using violence to force local street gangs to pay her "taxes" - a percentage of cash profits from the sale of drugs - for the Mexican Mafia's protection and permission to sell drugs. Reportedly, the money was then filtered to her husband, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence for his role in a murder-for-hire scheme.

About 200 officers and agents with the FBI, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, District Attorney's Office and Redlands and San Bernardino police departments set out at 6 a.m. Thursday to serve arrest warrants.

"We were successful beyond what we anticipated," said sheriff's Capt. Steve Kovensky.

They arrested 37 people, including Janet Hernandez, 41, of Bloomington, and confiscated seven guns and some meth, authorities said. During the course of the investigation, officials said, $36,000 in cash, more than six pounds of meth, two pounds of cocaine and 12 firearms were seized. Redlands police said they also foiled a slaying and took two rifles that were going to be used in the slaying.
Thirty-five of the alleged Mexican Mafia members charged were already in custody. Seventeen were still being sought.

"These people were working on our youth, trying to entice them to join the gang, making false promises," said Redlands police Commander Tom Fitzmaurice. "This type of illegal behavior is not going to be tolerated in the Inland Empire."

All but two of those listed in the 77-page indictment face life in federal prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. The other two, who were charged with weapons violations, face 40 years in prison.

Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Yonekura- McCaffrey said the Mexican Mafia members are responsible for "violence and misery that these people inflict on the families of these working communities."

Officials said they are unsure how many Mexican Mafia members live in the county but their "multiplier effect" is dangerous because they exert control over local gangs such as Westside Verdugos, Northside Redlands and the Varrio Redlands.

"The criminal activity will carry on, we don't doubt that," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen. "But I'd say we're making beyond a dent."

The indictment lists hundreds of recorded telephone conversations between alleged Mexican Mafia members talking about various drug dealers whom they protect or about having "tax" money for Salvador Hernandez, authorities said.

Hernandez, 43, pleaded guilty to an attempted murder of an unidentified man in 2006. It was connected to a sweep targeting a local drug ring officials said was overseen by the Mexican Mafia.

Authorities said they targeted shot-callers and major distributors in the investigation. With Salvador Hernandez in prison, they focused on his wife and Jeanette Amaya, who is on probation in connection with the same drug case Hernandez is serving time for.

She pleaded guilty to drug charges and a street-gang enhancement last year.

stacia.glenn@inlandnewspapers.com
(909) 386-3887

Indicted

Those charged in the federal indictment include:

Janet Hernandez, 41, of Bloomington
Ruben Morales, 44, of Riverside
Robert Jimenez Sr., 45, of San Bernardino
Gino Jimenez, 37, of Redlands
Jose DeJesus Ramirez, 37, of San Bernardino
Jose Trinidad Ramirez, 26, of San Bernardino
Armando Estrada, 32, of San Bernardino
Ernie Estrada, 23, of San Bernardino
Erik Estrada, 23, of San Bernardino
George Reyes, 39, of Colton
John Furtunato, 29, of Rialto
Juan Vaca, 38, of San Bernardino
Michelle Tejada, 31, of Redlands
John Viveros, 34, of Mentone -- being sought by law enforcement
Jessica Ramos, 28, of Redlands
Juanita Garcia, 29, of Mentone
Daniel Hocker, 46, of Highland
Michael Tejada, 31, of Redlands -- being sought by law enforcement
Tina Valdepena, 45, of San Bernardino
Ruben Velasquez, 24, of San Bernardino
Michelle Yglesias, 33, of Redlands
Laurie Fisher, 51, of Roseville
Kelly Kelly, 49, of Rifle, Colo. -- being sought by law enforcement
Juan Beltran, 33, of Whittier -- being sought by law enforcement
Jason Cardoza, 51, in custody
Jeanette Amaya, 51, in custody
Mario Hernandez, 36, in custody
Rudy Martinez Jr., 35, in custody
Joel Martinez, 24, in custody
Jennifer Patterson, 30, in custody
Alfredo Ramirez III, 25, in custody
Nicolas Sendis, 33, of Whittier, in custody
Christopher Sims, 26, in custody
David Lopez, 28, of Redlands

Charged by San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office:

Leiy Long, 32, of San Bernardino
Lorraine Cabral, 42, of Redlands
Edward Cuibal, 50, of Riverside
Kwame Givens, 25, of San Bernardino
Timothy Nieto, 44, of Redlands
Timothy Klenke, 50, of Redlands
Gabriel Banuelos, 27, of San Bernardino
Maria Calderon, 48, of San Bernardino
Ralph Nabuelos, 31, of San Bernardino
Juan Marquez, 31, of Highland
Danny Marquez, 33
Guadalupe Acuna
Gustavo Castro, 27, of San Bernardino
Angel Lerma, 28, of San Bernardino
Bertha Ayon, 30, of San Bernardino
Guadalupe Barajas
Mark Moreno, 37, of Lake Elsinore

What gang is in Mentone?....

NYTE RYDA wrote:What gang is in Mentone?....

None, as far as I know. There might be some various members from various sets. I don't recall any specific gang having control over or even claiming that area.

Varrio Mentone Beach Rifa!!

NYTE RYDA wrote:Varrio Mentone Beach Rifa!!

Lol.

I know theres some ese's from the Redlands varrio's living in parts of Mentone. Always see ese's walking/riding their bikes on Lugonia in Mentone while I'm headed Eastbound to Forest Falls.

NYTE RYDA wrote:Varrio Mentone Beach Rifa!!

I've always wondered why the hell they called it Mentone "BEACH"...when there's no beach? I see the name everywhere up there, on all the businesses.

So how long before we see the super-ceeding indictment linking the crimes commited by Luque and Amaya (ahem, the murders of James Seay and Ron Jaramillo under RICO...) Obviously there is enough evidence to against Hernandez and the others for that, is there not?

So all these dudes are alleged Mexican Mafia members? Looks like North Side Redlands/Varrio Redlands and has a lot of them on their team. And about Mentone, from what I know, most (or a good amount) of the ese's living up there are from the Redlands varrios. I sometimes see them in that neighborhood North of Lugonia (in Mentone) while I'm headed up to Forest Falls.

Jose DeJesus Ramirez, 37, of San Bernardino
Jose Trinidad Ramirez, 26, of San Bernardino

The old ladies primos
FREE CHAPO & PEPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was tolld that there was a big river that ran next to luguonia years and years ago...don't know how true that is but it maybe i'll have to check that out some more.

okay its a refference to Mill Creek along hwy 38 (lugonia) just googled it...seems they just used the beach part a little loosley...that creek dry's up in two seconds!

Make sense. That's where that Mill Creek BBQ joint came from. The original location is up there in Mentone, on Lugonia. The "river" flows from the Mountains in Forest Falls and all the way down. Don't know where it stops now. It get's thinner and thinner the further it goes down, and eventually just goes dry somewhere. There's several spots along the river that I hit up going up that way. The waterfall up there is the best though, freezing cold water...real nice for a summer day. Even a spot where you can dive in off the rocks. It's kind of funny how they named the city "Mentone Beach" because of a river though, that doesn't even make it down to Mentone these days.

LOL Paid, food again

Jinky wrote:LOL Paid, food again

i was thinking the exact same shit, lol