Gang Leader Sentenced To More Than 25 Years For Assault And Murder Schemes Committed Inside Monterey County Jail

SAN JOSE –Vincent Gerald Garcia was sentenced to 306 months in federal prison today following his federal jury convictions for multiple conspiracies involving gang violence in the Monterey County Jail, announced United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Beth L. Freeman.

U.S. District Judge Freeman imposed sentence on each of the three counts Garcia was convicted of, as follows: 306 months in prison for engaging in a racketeering (RICO) conspiracy, 120 months for engaging in a conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, and 36 months for engaging in a conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering. The shorter sentences were ordered to run concurrently with the longer sentence, for a total custody time of 306 months. 

Garcia, 55, of Salinas, is the 14th defendant charged, convicted, and sentenced in this case. Garcia was convicted by a federal jury on June 7, 2022. Garcia’s only co-defendant at the jury trial, Jorge Jasso, is the 15th and final defendant in the case and was also convicted at the trial of all counts. Jasso is awaiting his sentencing hearing. 

At trial, the evidence showed that from December 2012 through April 2014, Garcia was an active member of the Nuestra Familia (“NF”) prison gang and, for most of that time, incarcerated in the Monterey County Jail. Garcia held the position of Regiment Commander for the NF in charge of all Monterey County and, as such, controlled the criminal activities of gang inmates at the Monterey County Jail. The Norteño street gang is affiliated with the NF, and Norteño gang members pledge loyalty to the NF. Evidence showed that inside prisons and local jails, all members and affiliates of the NF, including Norteños, worked together to maintain gang structure and to follow gang rules. 

According to trial evidence, any member in a Norteño housing unit who committed a serious violation of the rules was subject to “removal.” A removal operation was executed by Norteño gang members and involved an organized attack upon the targeted victim. In the attacks, one or more “hitters” stabbed the victim and were followed immediately by at least two “bombers” who viciously beat the victim without weapons. The beating by the bombers inflicted further injury to the stabbed target and continued the attack’s chaotic distraction at the jail, which allowed time for the hitters to hide their weapons and wash off. 

Trial evidence also showed that removals were approved in advance by the gang leader in charge of the facility. The Norteño gang member who was in charge of the particular housing unit then planned the removal. All members in the Norteño housing unit were aware of the removal process and were required to assist if requested. 

Additional trial evidence demonstrated that the sale of controlled substances both inside custodial facilities and on the street was a central income producer for the gang. Evidence showed that Norteño members smuggled controlled substances into Monterey County Jail as well as other jails and sold the “hard” drugs to the inmates, while any smuggled marijuana was distributed only to fellow gang members. 

The trial focused on ten removals in the Monterey County Jail between December 2012 and April 2014. Most of the removals occurred in “K-Pod,” a cell block in Monterey County Jail that housed active Norteño members and associates exclusively. Three of the removals occurred in the jail’s main yard, during the recreation period for inmates who were housed in the lockdown pods for Norteños. 

Evidence at trial identified Garcia as the gang leader responsible for approving all removals. Evidence showed that Garcia was a long time gang member who rose through the ranks to become a carnale of the NF prison gang in the 1990s before becoming the NF Regiment Commander in charge of Salinas and Monterey County from 2012 through 2014. From May 2013 through February 2015, Garcia was incarcerated in the Monterey County Jail. Evidence demonstrated that while he was in charge of the entire jail for the NF, he ordered the assaults and murder attempts. He had ultimate gang authority and could put fellow gang members on “freeze” status, clear them for rule violations or strip them of gang or leadership roles, and elevate members into leadership positions. Evidence showed that Garcia approved all of the ten removals, including ones in which his co-defendants Jasso participated.

In addition to the concurrent prison sentences, U.S. District Judge Freeman imposed a five term of supervised release upon Garcia’s release from prison. Defendant Garcia was in custody at the time of his sentencing hearing and will begin to serve his sentence immediately. 

Below are the names, charges of conviction, and sentences of the 15 individuals charged in this case:

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Meyer and Neal C. Hong prosecuted the case at trial with the assistance of Christine Tian, Mimi Lam, Laurie Worthen, Susan Krieder, Lynette Dixon, and Elise Etter. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI with investigative assistance from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Salinas Police Department, the Soledad Police Department, and the Fresno Police Department.