Raul Leon ,Ricardo Martinez ,Joshua Cruz ,Cesar Abarca ,Richard Valenzuela ,Salvador Perez,Thomas Durkin ,Eduardo Gonzalez-Gallegos ,George Fernandez

Mexican Mafia Convictions
United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced today that a federal jury returned guilty verdicts as to seven defendants who were charged with participating in a Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) conspiracy involving the Mexican Mafia, aka "La Eme," prison/street gang. During the trial, which began on October 15, 2007 and lasted more than two months, the Government presented evidence of numerous racketeering acts committed by the defendantsUnited States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced today that a federal jury returned guilty verdicts as to seven defendants who were charged with participating in a Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization ( RICO ) conspiracy involving the Mexican Mafia, aka “La Eme,” prison/street gang. During the trial, which began on October 15, 2007 and lasted more than two months, the Government presented evidence of numerous racketeering acts committed by the defendants, including: murder, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, conspiracy to interfere with commerce through threats of violence, and conspiracy to launder drug proceeds.