Nine charged in Pomona murder conspiracy, extortion case
LOS ANGELES (KESQ) - Nine people have been charged with an alleged Mexican Mafia-linked murder conspiracy and extortion scheme in Pomona, where a gunman fired more than a dozen shots at a man over a perceived debt, authorities announced Wednesday.
Eight of the defendants are alleged associates of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, while a ninth is accused of removing spent ammunition casings after the July shooting to prevent investigators from collecting evidence, according to the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office.
Six defendants were arrested Wednesday, two were being sought and one was already incarcerated on unrelated charges.
The case was investigated by the FBI's San Gabriel Valley Safe Streets Task Force, which is headquartered at the Pomona Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Major Crimes Bureau. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed the charges.
According to investigators, the victim was targeted over a perceived debt and alleged violations of Mexican Mafia rules.
The man was placed on an "86'' list, barring him from entering Pomona or illegal casinos operated by the gang under threat of death, prosecutors said. His vehicle was also taken as part of the alleged extortion scheme.
When the man was spotted driving along a residential street in Pomona in July, a gunman allegedly fired 12 to 15 rounds while walking toward his vehicle.
The victim's vehicle was struck at least three times, while another vehicle parked outside a church was struck at least four times, including in the driver's-side head rest, authorities said.
Investigators allege that another person subsequently removed spent ammunition casings from the scene.
Following the shooting, alleged gang associates contacted the victim and demanded $2,000 to lift the threat of violence and arrange the return of his vehicle, according to the FBI.
Search warrants executed during the investigation and Wednesday's operation allegedly resulted in the seizure of approximately $200,000 in cash, methamphetamine and 11 firearms with missing or obliterated serial numbers, commonly known as ghost guns.
The six defendants arrested Wednesday were Jose Montano, 34, of Compton; Stephane Lechuga, 25, of Ontario; Joseph Rizo, 56, of Chino Hills; Irving Cisneros, 34, of Hacienda Heights; Jovana Reyes, 37, of Monterey Park; and Ruben Figueroa, 48, of Pomona.
Authorities were seeking Jeffrey Griffin, 44, of Montclair, and David Arenas, 30, of Pomona.
Jose Argumedo, 47, of Monterey Park, was already incarcerated on unrelated charges.
