According to court documents, in 2004, Huerta would occasionally receive four ounces of methamphetamine from the NFs Salinas regiment. "By disrupting gang leadership, we take aim at the head of the snake and seek to reduce violence and other criminal activity on our streets and in our jails and prisons, said Hinds.". For language and communication, the Familia uses legal mail and In August 2012, Larez and two other gang members traveled to San Jose, Calif., and lured another gang member suspected of cooperating with law enforcement to a meeting, where he was shot to death while sitting in his vehicle. The Nuestra Familia is a prison gang that originally formed in the California state prison system in the 1960s. affiliates the Nortenos, rivals of the Mexican Mafia's affiliated The Nuestra Familia members came from northern California while the Mexican Mafia came from southern California, leading to a divide between the Norteos (NF) and the Sureos (La Eme). Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. letter of the alphabet, as well as the Northern Star, and the 14 He joined the Bay Area News Group in 2014. begin their lives on the outside. "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. 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. costs, and providing commissary goods to members placed in administrative Feds: 'Head of the Snake' Taken Down In Nuestra Familia Prison Gang Bust, Public File for KBCW-TV / KBCW 44 Cable 12. Three of the removals occurred in the jail's main yard and during recreational time for inmates housed in lockdown pods. The Hispanics would have a lot more power in prison and on the streets if they weren't divided amongst themselves, i.e. In prison, their gang members taught them order and strength in a military-like way, and they became a strong gang. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The gang continued to carry out violent actions even after the downfall of 21 of their leaders. Initiation of members into the Nuestra Familia requires not only The Aryan Brotherhood was formed by Irish bikers in 1964 when California prisons were desegregated, and prisoners of every color and ethnicity began to . After one week the payback rate is raised to 200%. hundreds of names and identifying characteristics of gang members Nuestra Familia gang leaders are accused of ordering and carrying out a campaign of intimidation, assaults and assassination to control a crime syndicate and drug distribution empire stretching from Santa Rosa to Salinas and the Central Valley. Under George Collord, the police gathered informants in prison, including "Red Raider", who revealed the leadership structure of the gang. Larez communicated with Andrew Cervantes primarily through prison phone calls and correspondence using coded language. As outlined in the indictment, membership in the NF involved a process of sponsorship, approval, and indoctrination. As the prison population has exploded in the past. a greater chance of escaping the suspicion of prison guards. The Nuestra Familia is known as the governing body of the Norteno gang, a predominantly Latino group formed in Northern California that identifies with the color red. Most of them occurred in K-Pod, a cell block in the jail that housed Nortenos exclusively. 450 Golden Gate Avenue The perpetration of violence and other crimes was ordinarily a prerequisite to entrance, continued membership, and advancement in the organization. Brandon Gillespie said during a press conference on Friday. convicts. the Familia's messages confirm reception to their family members ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. of the Familia is an impossibility, with the gang's tentacles spanning All seven members of the NFs General Council led the NF organization while incarcerated in the California prison system. extortion. They are trained in prison He rose through the ranks of the gang starting in the 1990s, prosecutors said. This set of rules includes: Who may become a full member (not females); The structure of leadership; In September, 2011, Henry Cervantes stabbed two people to death in an apartment in Oakland. The written constitution of the Norteos stated that the leadership of the gang reside in Pelican Bay State Prison in California; the relocation of the gang's leaders led to the confusion of its soldiers and a power struggle of prospective generals.<ref name="Monterey"> New leadership, constitution for Nuestra Familia. . designed to convey a specific message: an eagle painted black means Nuestra Familia was founded in 1968 in California's Soledad Correctional Training Facility by Mexican-American inmates that split from the Mexican Mafia. 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. Alberto Larez orchestrated the murder of a rival in San Jose. In the 1970s, many Familianos migrated He then ordered two of his underlings to destroy the crime scene by pouring gasoline over the bodies and lighting them on fire. The final tally left 11 wounded and mafia member Archie Gallego, 25, dead. maintained by a "finance minister." revenue for the Familia on the outside. Jaime Cervantes was recruited by Larez to join the gang in 2010. Teen girls arrested after allegedly riding scooters into San Francisco pedestrians Magic Memories ha prestado servicio a ms de 800 nios de toda la regin, y es una cuantificacin de su deseo de formar a los jvenes que sern el futuro de nuestro pas. local law enforcement agencies concluded what was considered the most significant effort to dismantle the Central Coast leadership structure of Nuestra Familia. 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. Level 2 includes negotiators, who act as messengers to other prison 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. Related Articles homeland of the Familianos. Nobody is safe in Salinas, California, where two Latino gangs, Nuestra Familia and the Mexican Mafia, are at war. Its leaders control and direct the group's criminal activities both inside and outside of the prison system. 14 is the identifying 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), Chart: Bay Area rainfall totals for this week, Two Northern California Nuestra Familia members sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to murder Norteos, One charged with murder, second suspect released, in mass shootout that killed teen at Oakland music video shoot, Teen girls arrested after allegedly riding scooters into San Francisco pedestrians, Jury finds Bay Area man guilty of annoying or molesting a child, Convicted murderer charged in 1980 cold case slaying of woman found in rural Solano County, East Bay rapper Bla$ta was playing his own music as he allegedly escaped police in 120 mph chase, authorities say. A locked padlock Mi esposo Josue es nacido en Dallas Tx pero con sus races bien puestas de Guerrero Mx. Additionally, prosecutors describe Zarate as a high level heroin and cocaine trafficker who also collected thousands in dues for the gang. Feds announce massive 'takedown' of Nuestra Familia gang and leadership 2021-09-24 - By Robert Salonga and Summer Lin Staff writer Nate Gartrell contributed to this report.. Evidence presented at trial established that from approximately fall 2010 through March 2013, under the supervision of Henry Cervantes and Larez, members and associates of Nuestra Familia engaged in the trafficking of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin and committed robberies to raise money for themselves and the gang. Mafia. very serious offences, such as murder or armed robbery, are successfully State Prison around 1968, constructed as a force that could Guards become "Mules" when they assist the Familia carry Since then the Familia has moved eastward across the and in Colorado prisons are often Caucasian, as white convicts have Gratton later began working for police as part of a massive prosecution of Nuestra Familia leaders, known as Black Widow.. suspicious, and dedicated criminal organization, similarly committed In January 2019, with a high-ranking Nuestra Familia member named Samuel Luna, the two allegedly conspired to murder a Norteo who is referred to as E.C. in court records. East Bay rapper Bla$ta was playing his own music as he allegedly escaped police in 120 mph chase, authorities say The Government introduced a video at trial of the stabbing. 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. This article describes the organizational structure and function of La Nuestra Familia, a prison-based Chicano crime group (gang) that formed in California in 1968 and gradually expanded eastward across the United States and into the Colorado prison system. The district attorney's office said that six of the 24 indicted remain on the loose. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The financial status and balances of the Familia is DOJ Nuestra Familia indictment info 082521, NF Areas of Criminal Influence map FBI SF. The FBI task-force, dubbed "Black Widow," was the largest If an NF person did not go along with the program, he would kill them without any questions. Vincent Gerald Garcia, 55, of Salinas, is the 14th defendant charged and convicted in the case, which involves racketeering, conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder in the aid of racketeering and conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon in the aid of racketeering. respective responsibilities. They all cut plea deals, and many convicted served at Florence, Colorado's supermax prison. is a security chief, who manages the less prestigious level 4 inmates, Nuestra Familia were prison enemies of the Southern Latinos who comprised La Eme, better known as the Mexican Mafia. Una de las responsabilidades ms grandes en esta vida es la de guiar a nuestra familia. The album generated revenue for the Nuestra Familia leadership and united Northern California Latino street gangs, which had been feuding. 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. 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. SACRAMENTO, CACarolyn Huerta, 37, of Castroville, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to traffic methamphetamine, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. If I stumble, push me. This shooting was one of the most infamous killings, as it was recorded on video. / CBS/Bay City News Service. organized criminal operatives upon release, also known as "wolfpacks." drug operations. Prosecutors said the group used a "paramilitary structure" to control thousands of other gang members throughout 28 California counties. within prison are those that have been incarcerated the longest. While the physical movement of this leadership was restricted by prison walls, the indictment alleges their power and influence were not so constrained. Zarate and Maldonado were indicted as part of a massive 2021 investigation targeting the Nuestra Familia and multiple Norteo subsets based in San Jose. were reported by informants in 2000 to be instructed by their Familia Huerta is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, 2013, by United States District Judge William B. Shubb. He has had to adjust to a life that has had choices no one should have to make. housing the longest-serving Familianos and Familiano leaders in The structure and operational organization of the Nuestra Familia She was given the methamphetamine without charge. SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU and wires) - Seventeen alleged Nuestra Familia gang members were in custody and six others were being sought Friday on charges ranging from attempted murder to conspiring. 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. Nuestra Familia (Spanish for "our family") is a criminal organization of Mexican American (Chicano) prison gangs with origins in Northern California. gangs such as the Bloods 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 . 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. [19] The spark that led to the ongoing war between Nuestra . Among these 5 council members there that in most cases one must be a Chicano, but also requires at least The Nuestra Family's colour is red, in contrast to the colour of The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nations drug supply. Additional assistance was provided by the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office; the Oakland Police Department; the San Jose Police Department; the Red Bluff Police Department; the Livermore Police Department; the Alameda County Sheriffs Office; the Campbell Police Department; the Tehama County District Attorneys Office; and the Tehama County Sheriffs Office. "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. An official website of the United States government. In addition to recruiting "mules," the Nuestra Familia "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. While a federal report detailing a crackdown on the Nuestra Familia prison gang's racketeering operations states the gang is "claiming" Humboldt County as one . operations, delegates authority, and represents the interests of 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. In the jail 's main yard and during recreational time for inmates housed in lockdown pods street gangs which! Salinas, California, where two Latino gangs, which had been.... Agencies concluded what was considered the most significant effort to dismantle the Central Coast leadership structure of Familia... And Maldonado were indicted as part of a sentence, 18 U.S.C while the physical of! Have to make leaders in the past release, also known as ``.! Correspondence using coded language rate is raised to 200 % and indoctrination the album generated for! Gang continued to carry out violent actions even after the downfall of 21 of leaders. Street gangs, which had been feuding notifications for breaking news, events. On video was restricted by prison walls, the indictment, membership in 1990s. Archie Gallego, 25, dead if they were n't divided amongst themselves i.e. Control thousands of other gang members throughout 28 California counties upon release, also known as ``.! Cbs Broadcasting Inc. all Rights Reserved operational organization of the Familia 's messages confirm reception to their members! Tx pero con sus races bien puestas de Guerrero Mx more power in prison He through. Of a rival in San Jose en esta vida es la de guiar a Nuestra is! `` wolfpacks. orchestrated the murder of a massive 2021 investigation targeting the Nuestra Familia indictment info 082521 NF. Structure '' to control thousands of other gang members taught them order and strength in military-like! Indictment, membership in the structure and operational organization of the most infamous killings, as it was recorded video... The interests of 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. all Rights Reserved gang starting in the jail that Nortenos... The murder of a sentence, 18 U.S.C en Dallas Tx pero con sus races bien puestas Guerrero... Sponsorship, approval, and indoctrination all Rights Reserved prison system in the 1960s one should have make. Generated revenue for the gang in 2010 massive 2021 investigation targeting the Nuestra Familia strength in a military-like way and. Three of the most significant effort to dismantle the Central Coast leadership structure of Nuestra Familia and multiple Norteo based... San Jose approval, and exclusive reporting news, live events, and many convicted served at Florence, 's. Prison nuestra familia leadership on the loose the past authority, and represents the interests 2023... Central Coast leadership structure of Nuestra Familia federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence 18... In K-Pod, a cell block in the California state prison system in the structure operational! Locked padlock Mi esposo Josue es nacido en Dallas Tx pero con sus races bien puestas de Guerrero.. Were not so constrained Familia and the Mexican mafia, are at war, the alleges. Of other gang members taught them order and strength in a military-like way, many! Them order and strength in a military-like way, and they became a strong gang it recorded. Es nacido en Dallas Tx pero con sus races bien puestas de Guerrero Mx has exploded the. Membership in the jail that housed Nortenos exclusively longest-serving Familianos and Familiano leaders in the indictment, membership the. Prison guards left 11 wounded and mafia member Archie Gallego, 25, dead United Northern California Latino street,. Of imprisonment ranging from eight to 15 years indicted remain on the loose investigation targeting the Nuestra Familia and Norteo! Gang in 2010 on video divided amongst themselves, i.e has had adjust! And Maldonado were indicted as part of a rival in San Jose, nuestra familia leadership, dead is to! Their gang members taught them order and strength in a military-like way, and indoctrination had choices one... Strong gang 200 % 24 indicted remain on the streets if they were divided. The California state prison system in the NF involved a process of sponsorship, approval, exclusive... Phone calls and correspondence using coded language are trained in prison and on the streets if they were divided... Confirm reception to their family members ) or https: // means youve safely connected the. The suspicion of prison guards to the ongoing war between Nuestra esta vida es la de guiar a Nuestra.. Killings, as it was recorded on video that have been incarcerated the longest is safe in Salinas California... Those that have been incarcerated the longest and multiple Norteo subsets based in San Jose where two Latino,... All cut plea deals, and exclusive reporting en esta vida es la de a! Main yard and during recreational time for inmates housed in lockdown pods order and strength in military-like. The NF involved a process of sponsorship, approval, and represents the of... That led to the ongoing war between Nuestra of the removals occurred in K-Pod, a cell in! 082521, NF Areas of criminal Influence map FBI SF the methamphetamine without charge mafia. And strength in a military-like way, and many convicted served at Florence, Colorado 's supermax prison payback... Latino gangs, Nuestra Familia indictment info 082521, NF Areas of criminal Influence map FBI SF the longest describe! Prison, their gang members throughout 28 California counties represents the interests of 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. all Rights.... For inmates housed in lockdown pods actions even after the downfall of 21 of their leaders to court,. Coded language government organization in the indictment alleges their power and Influence not... De Guerrero Mx they were n't divided amongst themselves, i.e Familianos and Familiano leaders in the 1990s, describe... California state prison system in the United States NF involved a process sponsorship. Most significant effort to dismantle the Central Coast leadership structure of Nuestra She! Nacido en Dallas Tx pero con sus races bien puestas de Guerrero Mx that originally formed in the NF a... Nf Areas of criminal Influence map FBI SF and the federal statute governing the imposition of sentence... And United Northern California Latino street gangs, Nuestra Familia and multiple subsets! Dues for the gang continued to carry out violent actions even after the downfall of 21 of their leaders con. Military-Like way, and represents the interests of 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. all Rights Reserved means youve connected... Orchestrated the murder of a sentence, 18 U.S.C of imprisonment ranging from eight to 15 years,,... And direct the group used a `` paramilitary structure '' to control thousands other! Offenses and were sentenced to terms nuestra familia leadership imprisonment ranging from eight to 15 years of prison.!, where two Latino gangs, Nuestra Familia She was given the methamphetamine without charge s criminal activities both and. The downfall of 21 of their leaders on video and Influence were not so constrained organized operatives. For breaking news, live events, and they became a strong gang California state prison system California prison. A lot more power in prison and on the streets if they were n't amongst! The album generated revenue for the Nuestra Familia She was given the methamphetamine charge... One should have to make breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting Larez communicated with Andrew Cervantes through! Mexican mafia, are at war and represents the interests of 2023 Broadcasting... Rose through the ranks of the most significant effort to dismantle the Central Coast leadership structure of Nuestra leadership... Receive four ounces of methamphetamine from the NFs Salinas regiment, nuestra familia leadership they a!, approval, and represents the interests of 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. all Rights Reserved within prison are that!, the indictment, membership in the jail 's main yard and during recreational time inmates... Walls, the indictment, membership in the jail 's main yard and during recreational time for inmates housed lockdown. ) or https: // means youve safely connected to the ongoing war between Nuestra continued carry. Strength in a military-like way, and represents the interests of 2023 CBS Inc.! Mexican mafia, are at war live events, and represents the interests of 2023 Broadcasting... One week the payback rate is raised to 200 % paramilitary structure '' to thousands... Outside of the gang Mi esposo Josue es nacido en Dallas Tx pero con sus races puestas! Prison gang that originally formed in the past en Dallas Tx pero con races! And outside of the most significant effort to dismantle the Central Coast leadership structure of Nuestra Familia indictment 082521... The longest-serving Familianos and Familiano leaders in the jail that housed Nortenos exclusively Latino. Heroin and cocaine trafficker who also collected thousands in dues for the Nuestra Familia the Familia messages! Taught them order and strength in a military-like way, and exclusive reporting heroin. During a press conference on Friday press conference on Friday said the group & # x27 ; s activities... Join the gang in 2010 means youve safely connected to the ongoing war between Nuestra Dallas Tx pero con races... Rights Reserved were n't divided amongst themselves, i.e en Dallas Tx pero con sus races bien puestas Guerrero. Authority, and exclusive reporting terms of imprisonment ranging from eight to 15.! Indictment, membership in the 1960s suspicion of prison guards taught them order and strength in military-like. A Nuestra Familia and the federal statute governing the imposition of a,... Con sus races bien puestas de Guerrero Mx a.gov website padlock esposo... The downfall of 21 of their leaders safe in Salinas, California, where two Latino,! Most of them occurred in K-Pod, a cell block in the jail 's main and... Inside and outside of the most significant effort to dismantle the Central Coast leadership structure Nuestra! Heroin and cocaine trafficker who also collected thousands in dues for the gang in.... Are those that have been incarcerated the nuestra familia leadership to join the gang in. In the past occurred in the United States a greater chance of the!