Defendant admitted to “hunting” for and shooting at rival
gang members.
SAN JOSE – Julian Ruiz was sentenced today to 210 months in
prison for his role in a racketeering conspiracy and for using or possessing
firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence, announced United States
Attorney Alex G. Tse and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in
Charge John F. Bennett. The sentence was
handed down earlier today by the Honorable Lucy H. Koh, U.S. District Judge.
“Mr. Ruiz and the East Las Casitas gang have committed
horrible acts of violence against the public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tse. “This prosecution and today’s appropriate
sentence will hopefully provide solace to the victims, their families, and the
Salinas community.”
“This sentencing is a testament to our dedication to get
members of violent gangs and criminal organizations off the street and out of
our communities," said Special Agent in Charge Bennett of the FBI's San
Francisco Division. “Those who facilitate violent acts by racketeering and
other means cannot and will not be tolerated.”
On December 6, 2017, Ruiz, 29, of Salinas, pleaded guilty to
two counts of racketeering conspiracy; using or possessing a firearm in
furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A);
and aiding and abetting the use or possession of a firearm in furtherance of a
crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) and 2. According to the plea agreement, Ruiz
admitted to being a member of the Norteño street gang clique known as “East Las
Casitas” or “ELC” since at least 2006.
Along with other Norteño cliques in Salinas, the ELC committed acts of
violence for the benefit of the gang including murder, attempted murder, and
robbery. Among other acts of violence,
members of ELC sought to attack and kill members of rival Sureño gangs, as well
as members of other rival gangs.
The racketeering-related attempted murders to which Ruiz
pleaded guilty took place over a one-month period in 2009. On September 15, 2009, Ruiz was in a car
hunting for Sureños to shoot, and spotted a suspected Sureño on a bicycle in
front of an apartment complex. Ruiz used
a handgun to fire multiple shots at the suspected Sureño as he fled on
foot. A few weeks later, on October 3,
2009, Ruiz participated in the attempted murder of a rival gang member from the
Fremont gang. After learning that an ELC
hang out was shot into, and suspecting the shooting was done by Fremont gang
members, Ruiz agreed to shoot at and attempted to kill additional Fremont gang
members. Ruiz went to the home of a
Fremont gang member, kicked the front door open, and opened fire at two Fremont
gang members inside. Ruiz shot one
victim in the stomach and shoulder and the other victim in the left arm.
On October 28, 2015, a grand jury charged Ruiz with one
count of racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d); one
count of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, in violation of 18
U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5); one count of conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous
weapon in aid of racketeering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(6); and one
count of use of firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) and 2. Pursuant
to his plea agreement, Ruiz pleaded guilty to one of the racketeering charges
and the firearms charge. The investigation leading to the indictment was part
of the FBI’s crackdown on Norteño gangs in Monterey County.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Koh also sentenced Ruiz
to a five-year period of supervised release, to commence after Ruiz completes
his prison sentence. Ruiz has been in
federal custody since December 1, 2015, and will begin serving his sentence
immediately.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Hopkins, Christiaan
Highsmith, and Stephen Meyer are prosecuting the case with the assistance of
Nina Burney Williams, Adria Trgovich, and Lance Libatique. The prosecution is the result of an
investigation by the FBI and Salinas Police Department.
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