Three South Los Angeles gang members have received lengthy federal prison sentences for their involvement in the 2022 robbery and killing of an off-duty LAPD officer, Fernando Arroyos. United States District Judge Percy Anderson handed down the sentences yesterday, with Luis Alfredo de la Rosa Rios, 30, Ernesto Cisneros, 25, and Jesse Contreras, 36 receiving 50, 50, and 35 years respectively. All three defendants were ordered to pay restitution, varying between $28,604.07 and $31,204.07.
In court, Judge Anderson emphasized the impact of such violent crimes on the community, stating "The senseless loss of life is all too frequent in our community. It is literally ripping apart the fabric of our society. The sentence imposed today must send a message, not only to this defendant but to everyone, that if you choose to endanger our community by murdering, robbing, and trafficking in narcotics, there will be significant consequences," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office statement.
The convicted men pleaded guilty in July 2023 to conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. They were identified as being affiliated with the Florencia 13 (F13) street gang. United States Attorney Martin Estrada highlighted the malicious nature of their actions, "Gangs bring death and destruction, most often upon the very communities they claim to represent," and expressed hope that the sentences would bring some solace to the victim’s family and friends.
Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, reflected on the tragedy of Arroyos' death, "Fernando Arroyos should be with us today, helping to protect a city he was ready and willing to give his life for. Yet he died in a way none of us could have imagined." The sentencing is part of ongoing efforts to ensure public safety and hold those accountable for community terrorization, as Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna also noted, explicitly stating the gravity of violence against law enforcement and honoring Officer Arroyos’ memory.
The fatal incident occurred when the defendants, driving in Rios' truck, targeted Arroyos for the purpose of robbery due to his gold chain. After the robbery which also included Arroyos’ girlfriend, Rios and Cisneros shot Arroyos, leading to his death. The same day, Rios and Contreras had also committed armed robberies against two other victims within F13’s territory. Haylee Marie Grisham, 21, Rios’ girlfriend and an F13 associate, has also pleaded guilty to violent crime in aid of racketeering related to the incident and awaits sentencing in September. The case was a joint investigation effort by the FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, with the Los Angeles Police Department providing substantial assistance.
