SALINAS >> Four members of the self-proclaimed “Murder Squad” have been convicted and sentenced to life in prison and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office is currently prosecuting another seven members of the street gang, the office announced Thursday.

A long-term investigation known as “Operation REDRUM” revealed members of the Norteño street gang in Salinas were engaged in systematic targeting and killing of rival gang members and innocent individuals that had no gang affiliation according to the District Attorney’s Office. The targeting of civilians was referred to as “hunting.” Gang members were often accepted into the gang after hunting or committing a murder, regardless of whether the victim was a gang rival.

“These convictions reflect the strength and dedication of our state prosecution efforts in confronting violent, organized gang activity,” said District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni in a news release. “Our office has worked relentlessly to build strong cases, pursue justice for the victims, and ensure that those who terrorize our communities are held accountable.

“We will continue to lead in prosecuting violent crime and protecting the safety and well-being of Monterey County residents,” said Pacioni.

On Tuesday the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California announced Andrew Alvarado, a member of the street gang, pled guilty in federal court to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.

Alvarado, 34, was indicted with multiple co-defendants in October, 2020. According to court documents, “Murder Squad” falls under the Monterey County Regiment Enterprise affiliated with the Nuestra Familia prison gang.

During the “hunts,” the squad used military-style tactics, traveling in a convoy with a designated shooter vehicle and designated security/spotter vehicle while communicating via a conference call, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Alvarado admitted to participating in six of these hunts between January and May of 2017.

While in the shooter vehicle, members would drive up, exit, fire at victims until their magazines were empty and speed away. The security vehicle followed behind, ready to distract or intercept law enforcement to allow the shooter vehicle to escape, said the news release. Alvarado admitted that his participation in both shooter and security vehicles resulted in the deaths of six victims and wounding of five victims.

“Each additional ‘body’ increased Alvarado’s status and prestige within the gang,” said the release. Alvarado is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15 and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and $250,000 fine for the racketeering conspiracy and 10 years plus a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to commit murder. Pacioni’s office identified four of the convicted gang members, all from Salinas:

Fabian Alvarado was found guilty of the 2016 murder of Mario Puga on the 300 block of The Avenue in Salinas. He was sentenced on Dec. 11 2017 to 57 years to life.

Sontos Fonesca was sentenced on July 24, 2020 to 152 years to life for the June 2018 murders of Lorenzo Acosta and Ernesto Garcia-Cruz. Luis Atayde was convicted for the 2017 murder of John Rodzach at the Hebbron Heights Community Center in Salinas. Atayde was sentenced to 50 years to life in March 2022.

Neil Aguillon-Palermo, 23, was found guilty and sentenced on May 12, 2022 for a double attempted murder of two Salinas residents on Orchard Street in February 2017. He was sentenced to 64 years to life in prison.

The investigation was led by the Salinas Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Pacioni and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The prosecution was brought by the Violent Crime Strike Force and is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation, which focuses on identifying and dismantling highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations.