Gangs Division
The District Attorney's Gangs Division prosecutes the most serious gang crimes committed in the county. The Gangs Division is a vertical prosecution unit which combines Deputy District Attorneys with District Attorney Investigators to handle the unique and dangerous issues that arise in gang prosecutions. Led by Division Chief Dana Greisen and Assistant Chief Robert Hickey, the division's staff is some of the finest in the nation.
Last year, the Gangs Division continued its proactive role with local, state, and federal law enforcement. Prosecutors and investigators participated and assisted with numerous task forces aimed at gang members and the crimes they commit.
As part of this approach, the Gangs Division continued to participate in targeted operations, which have been highly successful in addressing gang crime in San Diego. Each member of a gang is targeted for the crimes they commit regardless of their role in the gang. This zero-tolerance approach disrupted some of San Diego's most violent gangs and resulted in convictions for charges including drug sales, prostitution, armed assaults and murder. As a result, gang homicide rates in the City of San Diego are below the average of the last two decades.
In 2012, the District Attorney's Gangs Division prosecuted a number of serious and grisly cases. Although the number of gang homicides increased in 2012, the figure remains well below historic rates and well below that of most major metropolitan cities. The cooperation of the District Attorney's Office with local, state, and federal authorities is at the highest level in the area of gang prosecution.
Another area of gang suppression is the Border Crimes Task Force, which was founded in 2009 through a federal grant. Three Deputy District Attorneys and one investigator are assigned to the task force. Along with federal and state law enforcement, the task force combats violent crime including murders, kidnappings, robberies and narcotic trafficking associated with major Mexican drug cartels. This task force coordinates efforts of law enforcement and prosecution to effectively combat the growing threat of serious and violent crime occurring in San Diego as a result of drug cartel influence in Mexico. One of the main prosecutions has been against a criminal organization called "Los Palillos," whose members have committed numerous kidnappings and murders on U.S. soil. Gang members from this group continue to receive life sentences for their role in past murders and kidnappings.
Prosecutors in this division continue to use all avenues to suppress gang crime including undercover operations and gang injunctions to stop violence before it occurs.
While there are hundreds of success stories in this division, the ongoing seriousness of gang violence in San Diego is reflected by the kinds of cases and defendants prosecuted in 2012.
Major cases included:
People v. Rafael Meraz and Michael Aguon
On Halloween night 2007, gang members, Meraz and Aguon donned face masks, armed themselves, and went to the Balderas home to seek revenge for an incident ten days prior when the Balderas family justifiably subdued Meraz for threatening the family with a gun. Vidal Balderas had just finished taking his four-year-old daughter trick-or-treating when he was confronted by the defendants in his front yard. He was shot five times and killed. The case went cold until in late 2010, when witnesses came forward with information leading to the arrest of the suspects. Both Defendants were tried and convicted and are now awaiting sentencing to life terms.
People v. Rashon Aberanthy, Seandell Jones, and Shaquille Jordan
May 2011, Rashon Abernathy created a phony Craigslist ad to lure and rob multiple victims. On May 5th, Abernathy used this ad to rob Erick Castillo. When Castillo chased after him, Abernathy pulled a gun and threatened to kill him. Six days later, Abernathy, Jones, and Jordan utilized this same tactic to rob Garrett Berki and Ali Faudoa at gunpoint. When Berki and Faudoa chased after the three defendants, Abernathy shot Berki once in the chest and killed him. Through the efforts of the San Diego Police Department, all three defendants were apprehended within an hour of the killing. All three defendants were convicted of murder and all are awaiting sentencing to life terms.
People v. Frederick Roberson, Dontaye Craig, and Rashad Scott
Over Memorial Day weekend 2009, Lakiesha Mason was with her sister and two friends celebrating her 21st birthday in the Gaslamp District in Downtown San Diego. Unrelated to Lakiesha, a fight broke out between rival gangs. One of the gang members pulled out a gun and shot his intended target five times. Two innocent bystanders were also shot. Lakiesha was hit once in the head and another man, who was a half block away, was also shot. Both men survived. Lakiesha Mason did not. She was killed on her 21st birthday.
In August of 2010, a case against gang member Marlon Johnson was being presented to the grand jury. The grand jury indicted both Johnson and Roberson for the murder. As the investigation continued another gang member, Dontaye Craig was identified as the as the shooter. More than 60 witnesses testified during the eight-week trial, each offering differing details about the shooter and other individuals involved. All defendants were convicted of murder and received life sentences.
People v. Kindu Goodman
On St. Patrick's Day 2008, which is celebrated by Lincoln Park Gang members as 'Lincoln Park Day' 2008, gang member Kindu Goodman shot and killed fellow Lincoln Park gang associate Donald White at the Bahia Hotel. Because the murders were within the gang, the challenge of the murder investigation went far beyond lack of cooperation. There were numerous potential witnesses to the crime, but virtually no one was willing to come forward.
Through the continued efforts of the San Diego Police Department and District Attorney gang investigators, the case was ultimately solved. The Defendant was convicted of murder after a trial and will be receiving a life sentence
People v Michael Mason
On the morning after Thanksgiving 2005, Michael Mason and other gang members broke into a home in the Valencia Park neighborhood in an effort to extort money from one of the residents. While there, they bound and gagged five people and held them at gunpoint for the entire day. One of the male victims, Meico McGhee, was severely beaten, along with a female victim, Sacha Newbern. They were placed in a bathtub and doused with gasoline. Mason and the other suspects then threatened to light the two on fire if they weren't given the money they sought. In the evening, after it became clear that there was no money in the home, the suspects executed Mr. McGhee and Ms. Newbern by shooting them in the head. Mason was eventually identified as suspects through DNA found at the scene.
While he was on the run and desperate for money, Mason attempted a robbery in in North Park. The victims were a couple, who were embracing by the open door of their car after a night celebrating their one-month anniversary. Mason approached the couple and demanded money. Although the female victim emptied her purse, Mason became angry and shot them both, wounding the woman and killing her boyfriend, Timothy Traaen.
Mason was tried for his crimes in the fall of 2012. Following a 14-week trial, he was convicted of murder and other crimes and will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
