San Jose -Erick Escalante-Torres and Jose Noe Ramirez-Wavear, members of the La Mara Salvatrucha gang (better known as MS-13) based in Santa Cruz, were sentenced today to 27 years and 11 months in prison and 22 years in prison, respectively, for the racketeering plot, the plot to start murder with racketeering and other crimes. The convictions were pronounced by the Honorable Edward J. Davila, an American district judge, following the condemnations of the defendants by pleading of guilt.
“This affair illustrates the activity of transnational gangs of direct threat to our communities and the blind and useless devastation that it brings to innocent families,” said the Special Investigation Agent on Internal Security (HSI), the San Francisco San Franciso Tatum King. “HSI San Francisco will aggressively continue individuals engaged in this criminal activity and make sure that they face the consequences of their actions. HSI San Francisco appreciates the dedicated work of his special agents with the office of the American lawyer and the Santa Cruz police service to translate these people into court. ”
Escalante-Torres, 29, also known as “Deccepto” or “Problem” and Ramirez-Wavear, 34, also known as “Chepito” or “Sparky”, were both actively involved in the company MS-13 in northern California, notably 2015 to 2017. gangs.
In the summer of 2016, climbing Torres, Ramirez-Wavear and others began to plan to kill a man whom they believed to be associated with the 18th street rival gang. Once the gang has received approval from the murder of higher gang leaders in Salvador, the group began to monitor the victim's movements and to plot different ways to kill it. According to court documents, they decided to kill the victim late at night while he was regularly going to a taqueria nearby to escort his fiancée who worked late. On September 22, 2016, they executed their plan, fatally pulling the victim on his way to pick up his fiancée. The victim was not really affiliated with the rival gang.
The two accused also participated in other gang shots. In May and June 2016, clovers and Ramirez-Wavelar helped destroy the evidence of a murder committed by another MS-13 click in northern California. In July 2016, clovers and others entered a territory of rival gangs and, after spotting alleged members of rival gangs, Escalante-Torres fired two shots, hitting a victim in the leg.
“The defendants engaged in murder and other violent crimes to achieve the objectives of MS-13, a transnational criminal organization. Their ruthless actions have threatened public security in Santa Cruz, “said the United States Prosecutor Ismail J. Ramsey. “With these sentences, we send a strong message to gang members that these crimes will be fully surveyed and prosecuted, and justice will be rendered.”
The two defendants pleaded guilty on August 19, 2024, to a racket conspiracy chief, a conspiracy chief to commit a murder for the benefit of the racketeering, and a chief of use of a firearm in the pursuit of a crime of violence resulting in death. Escalante-Torres also pleaded guilty to a chief attempted murder for the benefit of the racket and a chief of liberation of a firearm to pursue a crime of violence.
Judge Davila also sentenced each defendant to a supervised period of five years in addition to the terms of imprisonment. Escalante-Torres has been in federal detention since 2018 and Ramirez-Wavear has been in federal detention since 2017. The two defendants have started to serve their sorrows today. In addition to clippings and Ramirez-Wavear, 10 other members of Santa Cruz clique were convicted and sentenced to their involvement in criminal activity as gang members.
Deputy lawyers of the United States George Hageman and Aseem Padukone continue this case with the help of Mimi Lam. The accusation is the result of an investigation of several years by HSI and the Santa Cruz police service.
