One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Jury convicts Mexican Mafia boss from Orange County
This image provided by Orange County Sheriff's Department in July 2011 shows Peter Ojeda. Ojeda, head of an Orange County wing of the Mexican Mafia and his onetime girlfriend, Suzie Rodriguez were convicted of federal charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit assault and murder on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016. Authorities claim Ojeda controlled Latino street gangs in the county for 30 years, even from behind bars in Pennsylvania after he pleaded guilty to other federal charges.
(
Orange County Sheriff's Department/The Orange County Register via AP
)
Listen
0:55
Jury convicts Mexican Mafia boss from Orange County
A longtime member of the Mexican Mafia prison gang who exerted control over Latino street gangs in Orange County for three decades was convicted Wednesday of federal racketeering offenses.
The federal jury in Santa Ana found Peter Ojeda, 73, had ordered murders and assaults — even while incarcerated for a prior racketeering conviction. On the streets, Ojeda was known as “The Big Homie” and “Sana,” according to federal prosecutors.
The current case involved plots to murder other gangsters as part of a turf war with a rival Mexican Mafia member who attempted to assert control over the area after Ojeda was imprisoned at a federal lockup in Pennsylvania, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office.
“Today’s verdict demonstrates our ongoing commitment to using all available tools to dismantle the Mexican Mafia,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker.
Ojeda’s girlfriend, Suzie Rodriguez, 53, was also found guilty. She acted as a messenger between Ojeda and local gang leaders – his “eyes, ears and voice on the streets of Orange County,” according to the statement from prosecutors.
Ojeda was one of 99 defendants charged in 2011 in relation to Operation “Black Flag,” an investigation conducted by the Santa Ana Gang Task Force.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
