| For Immediate Release Case # 10CF2457, 10CF2449, 10CF2458 March 7, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
GANG MEMBER CONVICTED OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES MURDER OF MAN DURING
BOTCHED DRUG SALE
*Three co-defendant gang members were charged in this case
SANTA ANA – A member of a Latino criminal street gang was convicted today of gang motivated conspiracy and special circumstances murder of a man during a botched drug sale. Robert Reil, 32, Orange, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count each of special circumstances murder during the commission of a robbery, conspiracy to commit a robbery, street terrorism, and being an active participant in criminal street gang having a concealed firearm in a vehicle. The sentencing enhancements for being a gang member vicariously discharging a firearm causing death and criminal street gang activity, one prior strike conviction for residential burglary in 2005 and three prison prior convictions for unlawful taking of a car in 1999, possession of a deadly weapon in 2003, and possession of methamphetamine in 2006 were found true. He faces a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole at his sentencing May 11, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-38, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Co-defendant Amour Villamar, 32, Orange, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder during the commission of a robbery. Villamar faces sentencing enhancements for being a gang member vicariously discharging a firearm causing death and criminal street gang activity two prison prior convictions for possession of methamphetamine for sale in 2004 and unlawful taking of a car in 2009. Villamar is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing April 16, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-45, Central Justice Center.
Co-defendant Joseph Baez, 27, Orange, is charged with one felony count each of special circumstances murder during the commission of a robbery, conspiracy to commit a robbery, street terrorism, being an active participant in criminal street gang having a concealed firearm in a vehicle, and sentencing enhancements for being a gang member vicariously discharging a firearm causing death and criminal street gang activity. Baez is charged with sentencing enhancements for one prior strike conviction for assault with a deadly weapon in 2008 and one prison prior conviction for gang related fighting in public in 2004. He faces jury trial June 11, 2012, 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center.
Co-defendant Christian Galindo, 26, pleaded guilty Nov. 18, 2011, of one felony count each of voluntary manslaughter, and being an active participant in criminal street gang, with a sentencing enhancement for criminal street gang activity. Galindo was sentenced to 12 years and four months in state prison.
Reil and Galindo are guilty of and Baez and Villamar are accused of the following:
On Jan. 3, 2010, Baez, Reil, and Galindo, members of a Latino criminal street gang, plotted to steal drugs from a contact of fellow gang member Villamar while at a party together. They called Villamar and asked her to contact her drug dealer Bernal Ezquivel Felix to set up a meeting. Later that night, Villamar set up a meeting with the three co-defendants at the party by calling and arranging to meet Felix in Orange.