| For Immediate Release Case # 09CF2301 June 15, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
FATHER AND SON CONVICTED OF MURDERING MAN AND ATTEMPTING TO MURDER ANOTHER DURING HUMAN TRAFFICKING EXCHANGE IN 2000
SANTA ANA – A father and his son were convicted by a jury today of murdering and attempting to murder two human traffickers in 2000. Manuel Hernandez Juarez, 60, Riverside, was found guilty of one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death and faces a maximum sentence of 57 years to life in state prison. His son, Huber Juarez Vasquez, 38, Woodburn, OR, was found guilty of one felony count of second degree murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury and faces a maximum sentence of 47 years to life in state prison. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 5, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-29, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Prior to 2000, Juarez, who was living in Santa Ana, purchased two firearms by stealing a person’s identity and obtaining a California driver’s license. In 2000, Juarez arranged with victims Victor Camacho and Jose Luz Garcia to have his co-defendant son, Vasquez transported illegally from Mexico into the United States for approximately $1,500. Knowing about the agreed-upon transport fee, Juarez
On April 6, 2000, Camacho and Garcia transported Vasquez with several other undocumented immigrants from Mexico to the United States in exchange for money. Juarez arrived armed with to firearms to the exchange location, a Burger King parking lot located at 1241 W. 17th Street in Santa Ana. After the victims arrived with Vasquez and the other immigrants, Juarez armed Vasquez with a firearm to shoot the victims to avoid paying the $1,500 fee Camacho and Garcia charged for transporting Vasquez across the border. Juarez shot Camacho one time in the chest, murdering him. Vasquez fired at Garcia, shooting him one time in the abdomen.
The defendants fled the scene. Burger King employees who heard the gunshots called 911.Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) officers responded to the scene. Garcia was transported to the hospital and treated for the gunshot wound inflicted by Vasquez. SAPD investigated the case but it went cold.
In 2010, SAPD cold case detectives re-opened the case investigation, conducting follow-up including fingerprint analysis and witness interviews. During the investigation, SAPD detectives learned Juarez had been in federal custody for several years on unrelated charges and was due to be released on Sept. 16, 2009. On Sept. 16, 2009, Juarez was arrested by SAPD as he was being released from federal custody and transported to Orange County to face charges. That same day, Vasquez was located and arrested in Oregon. Bakersfield agents of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, in addition to agents from Oregon and Santa Ana U.S. Marshall Service, assisted in the arrests.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Larry Yellin of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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