In California, Gang Members Convicted Of Federal Hate Crimes

Los Angeles, CA - Four gang members were convicted in connection with a six-year conspiracy to assault and murder African-Americans in the Highland Park area of Los Angeles.

The four defendants, members of the notorious Avenues street gang, were convicted of a conspiracy charge that alleges numerous violent assaults against African-Americans, including murders that took place in 1999 and in 2000. Specifically, the defendants were convicted of conspiring with each other and with other gang members to violate the civil rights of African-Americans in the gang's neighborhood by attacking and sometimes killing the victims. The jury found that the defendants caused the death of Christopher Bowser, an African-American man who was shot while waiting at a bus stop in Highland Park on December 11, 2000. The jury also found that the defendants caused the death of Kenneth Kurry Wilson, an African-American man who was gunned down while looking for a parking place in Highland Park on April 18, 1999.

The defendants convicted are:

• Gilbert Saldana, 27, a triggerman in the Wilson murder, who is currently serving a life sentence in state prison for another murder;
• Alejandro Martinez, 28, who instigated the Wilson murder by using a racial slur and encouraging his fellow gang members to kill Wilson;
• Fernando Cazares, 25, who served as a look-out during the Wilson murder; and
• Porfirio Avila, 31, who is currently serving two life sentences in state prison for the murder of Christopher Bowser and another African-American man.

Defendants Saldana, Martinez and Cazares were also convicted for murdering Wilson because Wilson was African-American and because he was using a public street. Those three defendants were also convicted of using a firearm during the commission of a conspiracy and hate crimes. Finally, the jury found that the killing of Wilson constituted first-degree murder.

A fifth defendant, Merced Cambero, 27, who is alleged to have been the second triggerman in the Wilson murder, is currently a fugitive and remains under indictment.

"In a diverse community such as Los Angeles, no one should face race-based threats and acts of violence, such as those committed by these defendants," said Debra Wong Yang, United States Attorney for the Central District of California. "Mr. Wilson and Mr. Bowser were killed by the defendants simply because they were African-Americans who chose to live in a particular neighborhood. As this case demonstrates, we will aggressively pursue hate crimes such as this and convict those responsible for such reprehensible acts."