Jury’s Verdict Brings to Fourteen the Number of Defendants Convicted of Crimes Related to the Racketeering Enterprise
June 7, 2023 - SAN FRANCISCO - A federal jury found Elmer Rodriguez, a/k/a Gordo, guilty of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, one count of attempted 
murder in aid of racketeering, and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence related to his participation in the MS-13 20th Street clique, announced Acting First Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Colthurst and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. The verdicts follow a three-week trial before the Honorable Richard Seeborg, Chief United States District Judge.
“Bringing these violent criminal gang members to justice is a direct result of the partnerships between HSI SF, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the San Francisco Police Department and the San Mateo County Sherriff’s Office,” said Tatum King, special agent in charge, HSI San Francisco / NorCal. “HSI personnel and law enforcement partners dedicated years to this complex investigation with the ultimate goals of holding criminals accountable and prevention of additional victimization in our communities.”
The trial centered on the conduct of Elmer Rodriguez, the alleged leader of the MS-13 20th Street clique. Rodriguez was convicted of ordering the murder of Jorge Martinez near 19th and Mission Street on March 17, 2017. Martinez had been celebrating his birthday after attending a Warriors basketball game with his son. After the game, they went to a bar in the Mission District. Rodriguez and other MS-13 clique members were also present at the bar that night and identified Martinez as a possible rival Norteño gang member. Rodriguez ordered another clique associate to murder Martinez. The associate followed Martinez out of the bar and shot him to death.
Rodriguez was also convicted for ordering the murder of Giovanni Alvarez, a/k/a “P Wee,” on May 25, 2017. Alvarez was a 20th Street clique member who Rodriguez and others in the clique believed to be cooperating with law enforcement. Rodriguez sanctioned Alvarez’s murder because of these suspicions. Rodriguez and his associates, including Edwin Alvarado Amaya, a/k/a “Muerte” and Kenneth Campos, a/k/a “Nesio,” lured Alvarez into a car. Campos drove the group to Bernal Heights Park where the group intended to kill him. At the park, Rodriguez gave a signal to Alvarado Amaya, who then hacked Alvarez to death by inflicting dozens of deep wounds to his face and torso with a machete. Alvarado Amaya and Campos pleaded guilty to the crime and have been sentenced for their roles in this murder.
Rodriguez was further convicted of attempted murder and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence following a shooting that followed an extortion attempt by Rodriguez and other MS-13 associates on Eddy Street in the Tenderloin District on November 26, 2017.
Rodriguez’s trial featured evidence of the MS-13 20th Street clique’s other racketeering activities, including two other previously unsolved homicides. A member of the 20th Street clique shot German Polanco Gil to death on September 2, 2015, in the Bayview District of San Francisco after he and another member spotted Gil walking near his home. The gang member believed Gil was a rival Norteño gang member so they drove around the block, returned to where Gil was walking, and fatally shoot him on the sidewalk. Clique member Rogelio Belloso Aleman, a/k/a “Smiley,” pleaded guilty to, and admitted his role in, this murder.
Members of the 20th Street clique also murdered Gilberto Rodriguez at the Gray Whale Cove parking lot in Pacifica. Clique members including Kevin Reyes Melendez, a/k/a “Neutron,” Kevin Guatemala Zepeda, a/k/a “Mision,” and Abner Marroquin Alegria, a/k/a “Coche,” lured Gilberto Rodriguez away from San Francisco and ultimately drove him to a remote parking lot in Pacifica where multiple associates, including Reyes Melendez, murdered him by stabbing him with a machete and shooting him to death.
In addition to these murders, the trial featured evidence of additional acts of violence including:
- a September 16, 2016 shooting of a suspected Norteño at 21st Street and Hampshire Street;
- an October 27, 2016 gang assault in the Mission District;
- a May 17, 2017 gang assault outside of a taqueria in the Mission District;
- a November 30, 2017 attempted murder at 24th Street and Potrero Avenue in the Mission District.
In sum, the jury convicted Rodriguez of participating in a racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d). In addition, the jury convicted Rodriguez of two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(1), one count of attempted murder in aid of racketeering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5), and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).
Rodriguez faces a mandatory term of life imprisonment. Further, additional fines, forfeitures, and restitution may be ordered; however, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Rodriguez is in federal custody pending sentencing. Rodriguez’s sentencing hearing is set for September 19, 2023.
In total, 14 defendants have been convicted as a part of this investigation, which has resulted in convictions relating to four murders, four attempted murders, and multiple assaults with dangerous weapons.
| Defendant | Age | Charges | Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABNER MARROQUIN ALEGRIA a/k/a “Coche” or “Chapin” |
42 | Racketeering Conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) |
204 months in prison |
| ROGELIO BELLOSO ALEMAN a/k/a “Smiley” |
30 | Racketeering Conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) |
204 months in prison |
| Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3) and 2 |
|||
| EDWIN ALVARADO AMAYA a/k/a “Muerte” |
26 | Racketeering Conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) |
300 months in prison |
| Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(5) and 2 |
|||
| KENNETH CAMPOS, a/k/a “Nesio” |
33 | Racketeering Conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) |
204 months in prison |
| Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering (two counts) 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3) and 2 |
|||
| EVERT GALDAMEZ CISNEROS a/k/a “Talentoso” |
25 | Racketeering Conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) |
60 months in prison |
| Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3) and 2 |
|||
| OSCAR ESPINAL a/k/a “Chuy” | 32 | Racketeering Conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) |
144 months in prison |
| Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(5) and 2 |
|||
| KEVIN REYES MELENDEZ, a/k/a “Neutron” | 30 | Racketeering Conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) |
300 months in prison |
| Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering (two counts) 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(5) and 2 |
|||
| MISSAEL MENDOZA | 22 | Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3) and 2 |
36 months in prison |
| CHRISTIAN QUINTANILLA | 22 | Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3) and 2 |
36 months in prison |
| BRIGIDO JOSUE GONZALES SALES a/k/a “Inocente” or “Kiko” | 22 | Racketeering Conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) |
144 months in prison |
| Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5) and 2 |
|||
| Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3) and 2 |
|||
| ALEXIS CRUZ ZEPEDA a/k/a “Zorro” | 29 | Racketeering Conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) |
192 months in prison |
| Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(5) and 2 |
|||
| KEVIN GUATEMALA ZEPEDA | 27 | Racketeering Conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) | 204 months in prison |
| Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3) and 2 | |||
| FERNANDO ROMERO BONILLA | 25 | Racketeering Conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) | 84 months in prison |
| Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3) and 2 |
This case is being prosecuted by the Organized Crime Strike Force of the Office of the United States Attorney. The prosecution is the result of an investigations by HSI, the San Francisco Police Department Homicide Unit and Community Violence Reduction Team, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Gang Intelligence Unit and Investigations Bureau, Daly City Police Department, Pinole Police Department, Redwood City Police Department Street Crimes Reduction Team, and San Pablo Police Department.
Source: DOJ Release
