{"id":6025,"date":"2014-09-15T20:06:41","date_gmt":"2014-09-16T03:06:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=6025"},"modified":"2014-09-15T20:11:35","modified_gmt":"2014-09-16T03:11:35","slug":"self-professed-ceo-southern-california-street-gang-faces-four-life-sentences-plus-55-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=6025","title":{"rendered":"Self-Professed “CEO” of Southern California Street Gang Faces Four Life Sentences Plus 55 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Supernova<\/a>
Law Enforcement Image of Luis Manuel Tapia Video Recording<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

LOS ANGELES<\/strong> \u2013 The leader of the Oxnard-Based Colonia Chiques street gang was found guilty of several criminal charges, including operating a continuing criminal enterprise, according to federal officials.<\/p>\n

After a two week trial, jurors on Friday convicted Luis Manuel Tapia,<\/strong> Colonia Chiques leader and associate of the Mexican Mafia prison, of 26 federal charges and is facing up four life sentences plus 55 years.<\/p>\n

U.S. District Judge Otis Wright II will sentence Tapia on Dec. 15.<\/p>\n

Tapia, of Ventura County, California, was deeply involved in the business of running the Colonia Chiques and was personally involved in the sale of firearms and narcotics.<\/p>\n

Tapia is also heard in law enforcement video recording encouraging younger Colonia Chiques gang members to attack informants and heed to the rules of the Mexican Mafia prison gang.<\/p>\n

The evidence presented during a two-week trial in federal court in Los Angeles showed that Tapia was deeply involved in the business of running the Colonia Chiques and was personally involved in the sale of firearms and narcotics.<\/p>\n

During a series of secretly recorded meetings with Tapia, evidence indicated that he described himself as the \u201cCEO\u201d of his enterprise, comparing it to Walmart because he supplied a wide array of contraband and always guaranteed his product\u2019s quality.<\/p>\n

Indeed, one $200,000 drug transaction in October 2011 involved approximately 10 pounds of nearly pure methamphetamine.<\/p>\n

During the investigation, authorities conducted an undercover operation in Las Vegas in which an undercover FBI agent posed as a senior member of the Italian mob and negotiated to have Tapia supply the Las Vegas syndicate of the Italian mob with up to 20 pounds of highly pure methamphetamine every month.<\/p>\n

\"Luis<\/a>
Law Enforcement Photo: Luis Manuel Tapia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Jurors heard Tapia in video recordings say the following:<\/p>\n