- Three men face charges for allegedly recruiting juveniles into gangs.
- Abel Lara-Lopez, Cesar Santillan-Rodriguez and Victor Santillan-Rodriguez charged Monday.
- Investigation found evidence of drug distribution, weapon offenses and juvenile recruitment.
MAGNA — A long-term investigation by the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office focusing on juveniles being recruited into gangs has resulted in criminal charges against three people.
Abel Lara-Lopez, 19, of Kearns, Cesar Moises Santillan-Rodriguez, 18, of Magna and Victor Manuel Santillan-Rodriguez, 20, of Magna, were charged Monday in 3rd District Court with between 19 and 26 charges each, including criminal solicitation, soliciting a minor to join a gang, drug distribution and weapons offenses.
According to charging documents, detectives from the sheriff’s office “have been conducting a long-term investigation into … (a) criminal street gang for recruiting juvenile members to the gang, being involved in ‘putting on’ new members, and encouraging members, including juveniles, to be involved in criminal activities, including assaults, drug use and distribution, unlawful weapons possession, and graffiti, all of which would directly or indirectly benefit the criminal gang, in Salt Lake County.”…