United States v. Deleon

287 F. Supp. 3d 1175
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in United States v. Deleon. Read the opinion of the Court — 316 F. Supp. 3d 1303
District Court, D. New Mexico·Decided December 7, 2017·No. No. CR 15–4268 JB·Published

Opinion

JAMES O. BROWNING, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

*1179THIS MATTER comes before the Court on the Motion to Dismiss Indictment as It Relates to Shauna Gutierrez, filed May 18, 2016 (Doc. 1155)("MTD"). The Court held a hearing on November 8-9, 2017. The primary issues are: (i) whether the Court should dismiss the Second Superseding Indictment, filed March 9, 2017 (Doc. 947)("Indictment") as it relates to Defendant Shauna Gutierrez for evidentiary insufficiency; and (ii) whether the allegations in the Indictment, when assumed to be true, amount to a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959 ("VICAR"). The Court concludes that, in a criminal case, it cannot consider the merits of a pretrial motion to dismiss for evidentiary insufficiency unless Plaintiff United States of America consents and the facts are essentially undisputed. The Court also concludes that the allegations in the Indictment, if true, indicate that Gutierrez violated VICAR. Accordingly, the Court denies the MTD.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The Court takes its background facts from the Indictment. The facts are largely unchanged from those that the Court provided in its Memorandum Opinion and Order, filed October 28, 2016 (Doc. 753). See United States v. Deleon, No. CR 15-4268, 2016 WL 7242579 (D.N.M. 2016) (Browning, J.). See also Memorandum Opinion and Order, filed March 8, 2017 (Doc. 943); United States of America v. Angel Deleon, No. CR 15-4268, 2016 WL 3124632 (D.N.M. 2016) (Browning, J.). The Court does not set forth these facts as findings or the truth. The Court recognizes that the factual background is largely the United States' version of events and that the Defendants are all presumed innocent.

This case deals with crimes that the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico ("SNM") allegedly committed through its members. Indictment at 2. SNM, through its members, operated in the District of New Mexico at all relevant times, and its members engaged in acts of violence and other criminal activities, "including murder, kidnapping, attempted murder, conspiracy to manufacture/distribute narcotics, and firearms trafficking." Indictment at 2. SNM constitutes an enterprise "as defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 1959(b)(2), that is, a group of individuals associated in fact that engaged in, and the activities of which affected, interstate and foreign commerce." Indictment at 2-3.

SNM is a violent prison gang formed in the early 1980s at the Penitentiary of New Mexico ("PNM") after a violent prison riot at PNM during which inmates seriously *1180assaulted and raped twelve correctional officers after taking them hostage. Indictment at 3. During the riot, thirty-three inmates were killed and over 200 were injured. See Indictment at 3. After the PNM riot, SNM expanded throughout the state's prison system and has had as many as 500 members. See Indictment at 3. SNM has approximately 250 members, with "a 'panel' or 'mesa' (Spanish for table) of leaders who issued orders to subordinate gang members." Indictment at 3. SNM controls drug distribution and other illegal activities within the New Mexico penal system, but it also conveys orders outside the prison system. See Indictment at 3. Members who rejoin their communities after completing their sentences are expected to further the gang's goals, the main one being the control of and profit from narcotics trafficking. See Indictment at 4. Members who fail "to show continued loyalty to the gang [are] disciplined in various ways, [ ] includ[ing] murder and assaults." Indictment at 4. SNM also intimidates and influences smaller New Mexico Hispanic gangs to expand its illegal activities. See Indictment at 4. If another gang does not abide by SNM's demands, SNM manages to assault or kill one of the other gang's members to show its power. See Indictment at 4. SNM's rivalry with other gangs also manifests itself in beatings and stabbings within the prison system. See Indictment at 4. SNM further engages in violence "to assert its gang identity, to claim or protect its territory, to challenge or respond to challenges, to retaliate against a rival gang or member, [and] to gain notoriety and show it superiority over others." Indictment at 4-5. To show its strength and influence, SNM expects its members to confront and attack any suspected law enforcement informants, cooperating witnesses, homosexuals, or sex offenders. See Indictment at 5. To achieve its purpose of preserving its power, SNM uses intimidation, violence, threats of violence, assaults, and murder. See Indictment at 7. SNM as an enterprise generates income by having its members and associates traffic controlled substances and extort narcotic traffickers. See Indictment at 7. SNM's recent activities in a conspiracy to murder high-ranking New Mexico Corrections Department Officials inspired the present investigation. See United States v. Garcia, No. 15-4275 JB, Memorandum Opinion and Order at 2, filed November 16, 2016 (Doc. 133)(citing United States' Response to Defendant's Motion to Designate Complex (Doc. 56) at 1, filed May 3, 2016 (Doc. 70) ).

The United States filed the Indictment on March 9, 2017. See Indictment at 1. The Indictment charges Gutierrez with two distinct VICAR violations. See Indictment at 17-18. Count 14 alleges that Gutierrez and others "unlawfully, knowingly and intentionally conspire[d] to murder J.G. ... in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5)." Indictment at 17. Count 15 alleges that Gutierrez and others "unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally attempt[ed] to murder J.G., and committed assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury ... in violation of 18 U.S.C.[§ 1959 ]." Indictment at 17-18. In addition to those VICAR violations, Count 16 alleges that Gutierrez and others, "used and attempted to use physical force against J.G. by assaulting J.G. with a dangerous weapon with the intent to influence, delay, or prevent J.G. from testifying ... in an official proceeding ... in violation of 18 U.S.C. [§ 1512 ]." Indictment at 18.

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

The Court now recites the procedural background regarding the MTD. That background includes both the MTD itself and the United States' response. It also includes the hearing that the Court held on November 8-9, 2017.

*11811. The MTD.

Gutierrez filed the MTD on May 18, 2017. See MTD at 7.

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