Home Contra Costa County Operation Omega Red Ends With 15 Gang Members & Associates Sentenced to Over 165 Years to State Prison

Operation Omega Red Ends With 15 Gang Members & Associates Sentenced to Over 165 Years to State Prison

by ECT
District Attorney

Martinez, Calif. – Operation Omega Red, put together by Concord Police Department, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and all of our partner agencies, resulted in the arrest and successful prosecution of 15 gang members and their associates.

Since the arrests took place in August of 2016, the cases against the Norteno gang members and their associates have resulted in 15 individuals being convicted of felony offenses, most of those being serious or violent strike felonies. The most dangerous individuals, such as Thomas “Lil T” Leon and Armando “Mando” Amaro, received 35-year sentences in prison each. Other violent offenders such as Jesse “Manos” Loyola were sentenced to 25 years in prison. In all, over 165 years of custody time resulted from the Omega Red prosecutions.

“We focused our efforts on the violence drivers – the individuals who were committing the most serious acts of violence and putting the community in the greatest danger,” said Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton. These violence drivers include Thomas “Lil T” Leon, Armando “Mando” Amaro and Jesse “Manos” Loyola.

Today, the last two defendants in the Omega Red case, Jesse “Manos” Loyola and Armando “Mando” Amaro pleaded no contest to attempted murder with firearm use and committing the crimes for the benefit of the Norteno gang.

Between July of 2015 and June of 2016, there were 11 shootings between Nortenos and Surenos in the Central and Eastern parts of Contra Costa County. Seven of these shootings resulted in homicides. Four of those murders occurred on Highway 4, two occurred in Concord and one took place in Bay Point. Concord Police and other law enforcement agencies believed these shootings were related to an ongoing gang war between Nortenos and Surenos in the Central and Eastern parts of Contra Costa County.

In mid-May of 2016, the Concord Police Department, in conjunction with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and their Law Enforcement partners began a strategic investigation targeting the most violent Norteno gang members suspected of participating in the shootings. The investigation lasted just under three months. It resulted in the arrest of over twenty individuals; eighteen of these individuals were later prosecuted for crimes ranging from conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, drug sales, witness retaliation and firearms crimes.

From the date of the initial arrests in this case in August of 2016, there has been one murder on Highway 4, which was not gang related, and there has only been one gang related murder in the City of Concord.

“This drastic reduction from seven gang driven homicides in under one year to only one in the last three years is a testament to the effectiveness of this kind of targeted law enforcement action and the power of police partnerships across the county,” asserted Concord Police Chief Guy Swanger.

Name of DefendantConductCharges Pled toSentence
Armando AmaroInvolved in multiple shootings at rival gang members, gun possession and running from police

 

Attempted Murder with Gang Enhancements

 

35-years in Prison
Thomas LeonInvolved in multiple shootings at rival gang members, gun possessionAttempted Murder with Gang Enhancements35-years in Pirson
Jessica LoyolaInvolved in multiple shootings at rival gang members, gun possessionAttempted Murder with Gang Enhancements25-years in Prison
Jonathan ArroyoInvolved in a shooting at a rival gang member’s homeAssault with a Deadly Weapon with Gang enhancements18-years in Prison
Jose CastanedaInvolved in a plan to shoot at individualsConspiracy to commit a shooting with gang enhancements16-years in Prison
Adrian PonceSelling drugs for the gang and possessing guns for the gangSelling Drugs for the Gang and possessing guns for the gang13-years in Prison
Carlos GuzmanInvolved in a plan to shoot at individualsConspiracy to commit a shooting with gang enhancements7-years in Prison
Ronald WelchInvolved in a shooting at a perceived rival gang memberAssault with a Deadly Weapon with Gang enhancements7-years in Prison
Jesse OrtegaAssisted in transporting firearms for the gangTransporting firearms for the gang with gang enhancements180 Days County Jail
3 Years Formal Probation
Sean DunneConspiracy to retaliate against a witnessConspiracy to retaliate against a witness3 Years Prison
Ernesto EsquibellReckless discharge of firearmMotion to suppress grantedN/A
Cesar RiveraRobbery crimesRobbery and a Gang Related Offense5 Years Prison
Justin DunneConspiracy to retaliate against a witnessConspiracy to retaliate against a witness540 days of County Jail
5 years Formal Probation
Jorge RuizPossession of drugs for salePossession of drugs for sale18 months County Prison  2 years Mandatory Supervision
Jordy GarciaConspiracy to shoot at rival gang membersFelony for Benefit of the Gang270 Days County Jail
2 years Formal Probation
Ana LemusConspiracy to shoot rival gang memberNot held to answer at preliminary hearing by a judgeN/A
Lupita AyalaAssisted Thomas LEON in transporting firearms180 days County Jail
3 Years formal probation
180 days County Jail
3 Years formal probation
Miguel GuttierezPossession of a firearm used in a shooting committed by Jesse LOYOLAConspiracy to Commit Weapons possession for the benefit of the gang180 days County Jail
3 Years formal probation
Steve PrueAssisted Sean DUNNE in pimping activitiesNo chargesN/A
Total Custody TimeOVER 165 Years of Prison & County Jail Achieved

 

 Information provided by Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

 

 

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2 comments

W Wilson Dec 5, 2019 - 1:22 pm

I heard the governor is going to pardon them for Christmas.

Jgjg Dec 5, 2019 - 5:32 pm

No pardons unless they are illegals in a sanctuary state . Oh, I guess they will get pardoned. What a waste of a governorship. No safe streets in California anymore. Feces on the sidewalk gets better results than incarcerated dirtbags.

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