The suspected leader of the Orange County Mexican Mafia has been charged with organizing the murder of a Placentia man, along with the attempted murder of another person, while behind bars at Salinas Valley State Prison.
Johnny Martinez, 42, is accused of using a contraband cell phone to communicate thousands of times with gang associates both inside of lockup and out, seven of whom have also been named in a pair of indictments approved by an Orange County Grand Jury.
Law enforcement officials described the Placentia killing and attempted killing as part of an uptick violence related to Martinez – who goes by the gang moniker “crow” – taking over control of the prison-based Mexican Mafia from longtime gang chieftain Peter Ojeda.
“Murder, extortion, robbery, drug sales, kidnapping, these are some of the top crimes on the agenda of the Mexican Mafia in Orange County,” Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said during a news conference Monday. “Unfortunately, putting these individuals in prison doesn’t seem to stop them from commiting crimes.”
From “taxing” drug dealers to issuing edicts to local street crews, the Mexican Mafia exerts widespread control of gang activity across Southern California. Key to its operations is the group’s control over criminal activities in prisons and jails, where falling out of favor with the Mexican Mafia can lead to assaults or even death.
For more than 30 years, Ojeda, known by the moniker “Sana,” amassed unmatched power among Orange County gang members, continuing to control criminal activity despite a 2006 federal racketeering conviction that left him residing in a prison cell three time zones away. Ojeda in 2016 was once again convicted of racketeering following a power struggle between Ojeda and Armando Moreno, another Mexican Mafia and long-time Orange County gang member who was Ojeda’s ally turned bitter enemy.
The investigation that led to Ojeda’s second racketeering conviction also resulted in the conviction of dozens of his gang associates, including members of his inner-circle who testified against the long-time gang chieftain. Ojeda recently died behind bars.
“His demise led to Crow’s rise,” Rackauckas said of the transfer of power within the Orange County Mexican Mafia from Ojeda to Martinez. “He has proven to be even more ruthless and violent than Ojeda was.”
Like Ojeda, Martinez, who was serving a 15-years-to-life sentence for a previous murder and attempted murder conviction, is alleged to have controlled local gang activity from a prison cell.
Between Oct 8, 2016 and Jan. 18, 2017, Martinez used a contraband cell phone to communicate more than 3,500 times with a gang associate who was serving time at Calipatria State Prison, according to the indictment.
On Jan. 19, 2017, prosecutors allege that Martinez ordered four of his gang associates to collect money from Robert Rios. Security footage at Rios’ Placentia home captures several armed men with their faces covered holding Rios at gunpoint in his front yard. Rios fought back, according to prosecutors, and was shot to death.
On Aug. 5, 2017, according to prosecutors, Martinez learned that a former associate was at a Placentia residence, and ordered two men to kill him. The man, who authorities have not identified, was shot seven times, but survived.
“If you come to Placentia to do others harm, to gun others down, no matter who you are we will come after you,” said Placentia Police Chief Darin Lenyi during Monday’s news conference.
Indicted along with Martinez for the Rios killing are Gregory David Munoz, 30, Ysrael Jacob Cardova, 33, Ricardo Valenzuela, 38, and Augustine Velasquez, 22, all of whom are facing up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Also indicted along with Martinez for the alleged attempted murder are Robert Martinez, 36, Omar Mejia, 30, and Frank Mosqueda, 39, who are facing 75 years to life in prison.
Martinez has been in the news recently for a hunger strike he led behind bars last week at the Orange County Jail. Supporters said the hunger strike was meant to bring attention to jailhouse conditions.