Jun 26 2007
Four plead guilty in Le Eme racketeering case
SAN DIEGO — Four people pleaded guilty in a federal courtroom in San Diego Monday to participating in racketeering acts aimed at furthering the reach of the Mexican Mafia, a prison gang also known as “La Eme.”
Jessie Munoz and Edna Davis, both 46, Mary Lou Vega, 32, and Angela Esparza, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activities.
Sentencing is scheduled Sept. 14 before U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw.
A fifth defendant, 29-year-old Robert Romero, pleaded guilty last Wednesday to the same charge and will be sentenced Sept. 7.
With their pleas, each defendant admitted that the Mexican Mafia is involved in a wide range of criminal activities, including murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to import and distribute controlled substances.
The defendants also acknowledged the manner in which the Mexican Mafia is able to exert control over illegal activities within the prison system and on the streets of Southern California through its connection to various Latino street gangs in San Diego, prosecutors said.
The large investigating team included a number of agencies, including the Escondido, Carlsbad and Oceanside police departments and the North County Regional Gang Task Force.
Four plead guilty in Le Eme racketeering case - By: North County Times wire services - http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/06/26/news/sandiego/21_35_236_25_07.txt
