Gang members found guilty in Mexican Mafia case
JOSHUA TREE • A Joshua Tree jury found two Barstow gang members guilty of murdering a fellow gang member after less than a day of deliberations Wednesday.
Rolando Gamez, 35, and Claudio Jimenez, 34, were both convicted of murder, conspiracy to commit crime and participating in a criminal street gang. For all charges and sentence enhancements they each face 60 years to life in prison.
Gamez and Jimenez are both members of the Barstow-based gang Los Gents, along with the victim, Gilbert Chavez, 28. On May 15, 2009, the two took a drunken Chavez out to the desert where Jimenez shot Chavez in the arm and the head and left him to die. Authorities believe the hit was ordered by the prison gang La Eme, also known as the Mexican Mafia.
“I’m glad that Gilbert Chavez got some justice,” Deputy District Attorney Connie Lasky said following the verdict.
When the verdict was read, Gamez broke down, crying loudly, Lasky said. Family members also cried, embracing each other. For all, the verdict stirred up a maelstrom of emotions, as they saw justice for one and a life sentence for the others. The victim and defendants had grown up together, Lasky explained. Even the victim’s sister hugged Gamez’s mother.
Lasky believed the most compelling evidence in this case were the taped statements Tomas Quintana gave to police. Quintana, also a Los Gents gang member, told police during a taped interview that he went with the victim and defendants out to the desert where he saw Jimenez shoot Chavez in the head. He later recanted these statements during his testimony in court.
Quintana was also charged with Chavez’s murder, though he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in October. In his plea deal, Quintana agreed to testify about the night Chavez was killed in exchange for six years in prison. He will appear for a plea compliance hearing Thursday, where Judge Rodney Cortez will determine whether his testimony was truthful.
Attempts to reach defense attorneys for Gamez and Jimenez were unsuccessful Wednesday.
A sentencing hearing for both defendants is scheduled for Oct. 12 at Joshua Tree Superior Court.
Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or klucia@desertdispatch.com
