FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Case #:18ZF0003
Date: July 30, 2018
ORANGE COUNTY MEXICAN MAFIA LEADER AND THREE MEMBERS INDICTED FOR SOLICITING MURDER OF MAN SHOT EIGHT TIMES IN PLACENTIA
*Two defendants accused of organizing attempted murder from inside state prison
SANTA ANA, Calif. – The leader of the Orange County Mexican Mafia and three members were indicted for soliciting the murder of a man who was shot eight times in Placentia. Two defendants are accused of organizing the attempted murder from inside state prison.
|
Defendants |
Felony Charges |
Minimum Sentence |
Court Date |
|
Johnny Martinez, 42,
Gang Moniker: “Crow” |
Sentencing Enhancements
|
75 years to life in state prison |
Arraignment
Aug. 24, 2018, time to be determined
Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana
|
|
Robert Martinez, 36, Corona
Gang Moniker: “Lil Rob” |
Sentencing Enhancements
|
75 years to life in state prison |
Arraignment
Aug. 24, 2018, time to be determined
Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana
|
|
Omar Mejia, 30, Anaheim
Gang Moniker: “Cruz” |
Sentencing Enhancements
|
75 years to life in state prison |
Arraignment
Aug. 24, 2018, time to be determined
Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana
|
|
Frank Mosqueda, 39, Huntington Beach
Gang Moniker: “Demon/Pride” |
Sentencing Enhancements
|
75 years to life in state prison |
Arraignment
Aug. 24, 2018, time to be determined
Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana |
Circumstances of the Case
- At the time of the crime, Johnny Martinez, known by the moniker “Crow” and incarcerated in the Salinas Valley State Prison in Monterey County, is accused of being the new leader of the Mexican Mafia in Orange County and directing criminal street gang activity in Orange County. Frank Mosqueda, known by the moniker “Demon/Pride,” Omar Mejia, known by the moniker “Cruz,” and Robert Martinez, known by the moniker “Lil Rob,” are also accused of being gang members actively participating in the Orange County Mexican Mafia.
- On or about July 28, 2017, under the direction of Johnny Martinez, Mosqueda is accused of authoring and possessing a jailhouse communication known as a “kite” which authorized the murder ofJohn Doe,a rival criminal street gang member from Placentia.
- On Aug. 5, 2017, at approximately 7:50 p.m., Johnny Martinez is accused of reading a text message in state prison from the victim, John Doe, stating he was at his girlfriend’s residence in Placentia.
- Shortly thereafter, Johnny Martinez is accused of sending multiple text messages to Mejia, who was incarcerated in the Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County, to organize the murder of John Doe.
- At approximately 8:00 p.m., Mejia is accused of replying to Johnny Martinez’ text message and sending another text message to recruit criminal street gang member Robert Martinez, who was then living in Corona, to murder John Doe. Mejia is further accused of using his cell phone while inside state prison to call and recruit Mosqueda, who was living in Huntington Beach, to assist Robert Martinez in carrying out the murder.
- Later that same evening, Mosqueda and Robert Martinez are accused of meeting in Placentia, armed with a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, equipped with a red laser sight, and driving to John Doe’s location.
- At approximately 11:11 p.m., Mosqueda and Robert Martinez are accused of assaulting victims John Doe, Jane Doe 1, and Jane Doe 2, outside of a residence in Placentia. Mosqueda is accused of aiming the .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun and shooting at John Doe eight times, striking him seven times in legs, back and arm. Mosqueda is also accused of aiming the gun with the red laser fixed directly in the center of the foreheads of Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, before fleeing the scene with Robert Martinez. John Doe was transported shortly thereafter to the hospital and survived multiple gunshot wounds.
- The Placentia Police Department (PPD) investigated this case.
- On Aug. 8, 2017, PPD arrested Mosqueda at his parole office in Irvine. Robert Martinez was in custody in Orange County Jail.
- On June 5, 2018, the defendants were indicted by the Orange County Grand Jury.
About the Mexican Mafia
The Mexican Mafia has been in existence since the late 1950s. Criminal street gang members of Southern Hispanic descent incarcerated in the California Prison System answer to the Mexican Mafia.
In 1987, Peter Ojeda (Sana) took charge and maintained control for the next 30 years. In 2016, Johnny Martinez, a PLAS gang member currently serving a 15 years to life sentence in Salinas prison for one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. Martinez is accused of taking control of the Orange County Jails after Ojeda was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Since that time, the Mexican Mafia has become much more active and violent. Martinez demands the utmost loyalty from those on the “mesa,” which typically includes four gang members who work closest with Martinez to control the Orange County jails and street gang activity.
The Mexican Mafia controls Orange County criminal street gangs by collecting taxes, ordering assaults to keep gang members in line, and directing murders through jailhouse “kites” against enemies of the Mexican Mafia and disobedient criminal street gang members. This is known as putting someone on the “hard candy list” or “green-lighting them.”
Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Dave Porter, GANG/TARGET Unit