| For Immediate Release Case # 12ZF0129
May 1, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718Farrah Emami Spokesperson Office: 714-347-8405 Cell: 714-323-4486
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SIX DEFENDANTS TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR MURDER AND CONSPIRING TO DISTRIBUTE METHAMPHETAMINE
SANTA ANA – Six defendants will be arraigned today on charges of murder and conspiracy to sell and distribute methamphetamine. Juan Carlos Carranza, 24, and Alma Lopez Trinidad, 25, both of Anaheim, are charged (Case #12CF1290) with one felony count each of murder, first degree residential burglary, and conspiracy to commit a crime. Carranza is additionally charged with sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a firearm and possession of a substance to distribute exceeding one kilogram. If convicted on all counts, Carranza faces a maximum sentence of 45 years to life, and Trinidad faces a maximum of 35 years to life in state prison.
Co-defendants Rocio Alejandra Badilla, 21, and Jose Felix Zepeda, 39, both of Los Angeles, Agustin Vazquez Velazquez, 26, Montebello, and Kain Espinoza, 27, City of Commerce, are charged (Case #12CF1289) with one felony count of murder, two felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, and one felony count of kidnapping to commit a robbery. Velazquez and Zepeda are additionally charged with special circumstances sentencing enhancements for murder during the commission of a robbery, the personal use of a firearm, and possession of a substance to distribute exceeding one kilogram. If convicted on all counts, Zepeda and Velazquez face a maximum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole, Badilla faces a maximum sentence of 35 years to life, and Espinoza faces a maximum sentence of 33 years to life in state prison.
Zepeda and Velazquez are being held without bail and the other co-defendants are being held on $2 million bail. Carranza, Trinidad, Velazquez and Zepeda are subject to a no-bail Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold. All six are scheduled to be arraigned today May 1, 2012, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.
On April 25, 2012, Carranza and Trinidad are accused of conspiring to steal methamphetamines from drug dealers with co-conspirator Luis Arreola. Those drug dealers are accused of being Badilla, Espinoza, Velazquez and Zepeda. Trinidad is accused of contacting Espinoza and Velazquez under the pretense of purchasing three pounds of methamphetamines. Zepeda is accused of supplying the drugs.
Later that day, Carranza is accused of going to Velazquez’s Montebello home with Arreola and an unsuspecting friend, John Doe. Carranza is accused of stealing the methamphetamines at gunpoint with Arreola and fleeing the scene with the drugs, leaving John Doe behind. Badilla, Espinoza, Velazquez and Zepeda are accused of kidnapping John Doe and forcing him to drive them to Carranza’s home.
Badilla, Espinoza, Velazquez and Zepeda are accused of driving to Carranza’s Anaheim apartment complex on East Clifton Avenue. They are accused of murdering Arreola by shooting him in the neck and then fleeing the scene with their drugs.