{"id":28520,"date":"2016-12-22T13:52:54","date_gmt":"2016-12-22T21:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=28520"},"modified":"2016-12-22T13:52:54","modified_gmt":"2016-12-22T21:52:54","slug":"gang-member-admits-killing-man-who-failed-to-pay-drug-taxes-to-mexican-mafia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=28520","title":{"rendered":"Gang Member Admits Killing Man Who Failed to Pay “Drug Taxes” to Mexican Mafia"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A federal judge sentenced an El Sereno man and former 18th<\/sup> Street gang member to 24 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a federal drug trafficking offense and admitting he murdered a man who had failed to pay \u201ctaxes\u201d to the Mexican Mafia.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0U.S.District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald sentenced Eddie \u201cCriminal\u201d Garcia,<\/strong> 39, on Monday to 24 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 During Monday\u2019s sentencing hearing, Judge Fitzgerald said it was \u201cdifficult to imagine a more egregious crime in federal court\u201d and that the defendant had \u201cstolen hope\u201d from the victim\u2019s family.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Garcia plead guilty last year to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in a case that targeted the San Gabriel Valley-based Puente-13 gang. <\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, the drug trafficking included collecting \u201ctaxes\u201d or \u201crent\u201d on behalf of the Mexican Mafia member who controlled Puente-13, Garcia admitted that he murdered another gang member who failed to make those extortion payments.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThis defendant killed another human being in cold blood to further his own criminal credentials and to further his drug trafficking career,\u201d said U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker. <\/span><\/p>\n

Adding, \u201cWhile he may have believed he could get away with murder, the hard work and dedication of law enforcement and prosecutors in my office ensured that he was held accountable. This case is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gang violence on our community and the severe consequences that will result from participating in those criminal enterprises.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In a plea agreement with prosecutors, Garcia admitted that in 2006 he and two members of Puente-13 lured another gang member to an apartment complex, where Garcia executed the victim with a bullet to the head. <\/span><\/p>\n

Garcia was acting at the behest of leaders of Puente-13, who targeted the victim, a Valinda man named David Dragna, because Dragna was suspected of taking drug money that was intended for the Mexican Mafia.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 At Monday\u2019s sentencing, Dragna\u2019s sister lamented the loss of her \u201cbest friend and the person who taught her how to ride a bike, drive a car, and went on [her] first date as a chaperone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She described the devastation the murder caused her family who, for the past decade, had been desperately waiting for the day that they would see justice be done, according to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Dragna murder was unsolved prior to a federal racketeering indictment that was unsealed in June 2010.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two members of Puente-13 pleaded guilty to participating in Dragna\u2019s murder. Angel \u201cSmiley\u201d Torres was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison, and Steven \u201cFlaco\u201d Nunez is currently serving a 10-year prison term.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Mexican Mafia member who controlled the Puente-13 gang and his brother were sentenced to life<\/a> in federal prison after being convicted at trial for their roles in the drug and murder conspiracy, according to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES\u00a0 A federal judge sentenced an El Sereno man and former 18th Street gang member to 24 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a federal drug trafficking offense and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28351,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-main-slider","category-u-s-department-of-justice"],"yoast_head":"\nGang Member Killed Man Who Failed to "Pay" Taxes to Mexican Mafia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A judge sentenced an El Sereno man and former 18th Street gang member to 24 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a federal drug trafficking offense.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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