A one-time shot-caller for a Los Angeles-based transnational criminal street gang faces at least 10 years in federal prison Friday at sentencing for his convictions on racketeering and drug charges.
José Balmore Romero, 49, was found guilty last year in downtown Los Angeles of single counts of conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Federal prosecutors say Romero was an overall leader for the gang in 2013-14, overseeing the gang’s drug-trafficking activities and collection of extortion “taxes” and “rent,” which was distributed in part to members of the Mexican Mafia. He also issued gang orders such as the initiation of new members and assault of those who were in bad standing, prosecutors said.
His co-defendant, Erwin Alexander Melgar, 45, was found guilty of the same charges as Romero, plus two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Melgar, a shot-caller for the Normandie clique of the gang based in Koreatown, presided over his group’s drug and other activities, and oversaw operation of illegal after-hours clubs, or “casitas,” according to evidence presented at a four-day trial in Los Angeles federal court.
Melgar is set for sentencing on March 18. Both defendants face between 10 years and life in federal prison, prosecutors noted.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said prosecutors have secured 28 convictions so far in the case targeting leaders of the gang in Los Angeles.