Reputed Mexican Mafia leader faces charges in 2016 killing

A reputed Mexican Mafia leader in Orange County and two other defendants have been charged in the Christmas Day 2016 killing of Javier Maldonado in San Juan Capistrano, according to NBC Los Angeles. Prosecutors allege the attackers intended to assault Maldonado’s son but killed the 60-year-old father instead.

The charges add the Maldonado killing to a broader federal racketeering prosecution involving the Mexican Mafia, NBC Los Angeles reported. The case also involves the separate killing of Robert Rios in Placentia.

Federal prosecutors said a superseding indictment returned Wednesday added charges in Maldonado’s killing, according to NBC Los Angeles. The defendants are Johnny Martinez, 50, of Placentia; Gregory Muñoz, 39, whose last known residence was Placentia; and Agustin Velasquez, 30, of Anaheim. Martinez is the reputed leader of the gang’s Orange County branch, while Muñoz is an alleged shot-caller.

Prosecutors allege Velasquez and an unnamed co-conspirator entered Maldonado’s home to attack his son. Sheriff’s deputies responding around 5:20 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2016, found Maldonado fatally shot at his home in the 25000 block of Avenida Cabrillo.

Before the attack, Martinez, Muñoz and others discussed Maldonado’s son and noted that he was in county jail and on a list, according to the indictment as reported by NBC Los Angeles.

The broader prosecution also concerns the Jan. 19, 2017, killing of Rios, 35. Prosecutors alleged he was targeted because he failed to turn over a portion of his drug profits to the Mexican Mafia. Federal prosecutors took over that case after legal problems led to the dismissal of cases against Martinez and other defendants, NBC Los Angeles reported.

Velasquez’s state murder conviction in the Rios case was overturned on appeal because investigators kept questioning him after he asked for a defense attorney, according to the report. He is awaiting retrial.

In the Rios case, Ysrael Jacob Cordova and Ricardo Valenzuela were convicted in July of murder in aid of racketeering. Both are awaiting sentencing, NBC Los Angeles reported.