Four senior leaders of the notorious Nuestra Familia prison gang were convicted of racketeering and related crimes by a federal jury on Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California announced.
David Cervantes, 76, James Perez, 70, Guillermo Solorio, 45, and George Franco, 59, were found guilty of multiple charges, including murder conspiracies, attempted murder, drug distribution, and money laundering.
“Prison gangs are a blight on the criminal justice system and on society,” said Martha Boersch, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division.
“They perpetuate violence and criminality inside prisons and oversee vast criminal networks through the use of contraband cell phones. This prosecution sends a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated, even behind prison walls.”
The trial presented extensive evidence, including testimony from over 50 witnesses and wiretapped phone calls, establishing the defendants’ leadership roles in Nuestra Familia’s violent and lucrative criminal enterprise.