Nine Salinas Acosta Plaza Norteño Gang Members Indicted For Racketeering Conspiracy

SAN JOSE – A federal grand jury has indicted nine South Bay men for taking part in a racketeering conspiracy to promote the aims of the Salinas Acosta Plaza Norteños (SAP Norteños) street gang by engaging in multiple crimes, including 11 murders, 14 attempted murders, drug and gun distribution, and other related offenses.  

The superseding indictment, filed Dec. 18, 2025, and unsealed today, charges nine defendants, Gustavo Garcia, aka “Tatis,” 26; Lorenzo Garcia Jr., aka “Chito,” 32; Bertin Medrano, aka “Dre,” 32; Jesus Saldana aka “D Rose,” 22; Oscar Benitez aka “Sideshow,” 27; Carlos Gutierrez aka “Black Carlos,” 19; Jesus Avalos Fernandez aka “Chuchin,” 27; Jose Aguilera aka “Jay,” 26; and Marco Sanchez aka “Cooks,” 29, each with one count of racketeering conspiracy.  Eleven defendants, including Gustavo Garcia, Lorenzo Garcia, and Medrano, were originally indicted in April 2024.  Saldana was arrested this morning in a coordinated law enforcement operation and was arraigned in federal district court this afternoon.  The other defendants were already in federal or state custody.  

“For more than a decade, this gang has terrorized the residents of the Acosta Plaza townhomes and East Salinas more broadly.  The violent criminal activity that defendants have been charged with is appalling and unacceptable.  We will not stop until the residents of this community feel safe and secure in their homes,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.  “I want to thank Homeland Security Investigations and the Salinas Police Department for their excellent work and collaboration.”

“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to investigating, and bringing to justice, dangerous criminal gangs threatening our communities.  We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to dismantle these groups and disrupt their illicit and violent enterprises,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeff Brannigan.

According to the superseding indictment, the SAP Norteños are a street gang that originated in a Salinas townhome complex by the same name.  The group is now recognized as a clique within the larger collection of Norteño criminal street gangs.  Members of the street gang work together to carry out crimes for the benefit of the street gang, its members, the larger Norteño organization, and the Nuestra Familia prison gang.  Crimes are perpetrated by gang members to protect and uphold its power, territory, and profits, and gang members are expected to engage in shootings, robberies, drug sales, and other criminal conduct to gain entry into, and improve a member’s status in, the gang.  Once in the gang, attempting to leave is not permitted; the punishment for attempting to leave is death.

The superseding indictment lists more than four dozen criminal acts that the defendants are alleged to have committed, including murders and attempted murders between July 2014 and April 2024 of perceived rival gang members, transient individuals, and former gang members.  Defendants are also alleged to have engaged in multiple other crimes, including the robberies of individuals at gunpoint, the firebombing of a Salinas apartment, the distribution of drugs including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, firearms trafficking, and numerous shootings.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine for racketeering conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c).

In addition, the indictment alleges that special sentencing factors apply to Lorenzo Garcia for his role in the July 19, 2014, murder of a person identified in the indictment as “Victim-1” and Saldana for his role in the January 23, 2023, attempted murder of two people identified as “Victim-2” and “Victim-3.”  If convicted, Lorenzo Garcia and Saldana each face a maximum sentence of life in prison.  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.  Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

Assistant United States Attorneys George Hageman and Jared Buszin are prosecuting this case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI and the Salinas Police Department, with assistance from the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.

SAP Norteños Superseding Indictment