Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced that Jonathan Peterson, already in prison for gang-related crimes, will now serve an additional 42.75 years for second-degree murder and being part of a criminal street gang. An investigation revealed that Peterson used a smuggled cell phone from his cell to order a hit on an informant, showing the reach of organized crime even from behind bars, according to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
As reported by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Peterson, who was born in December 1983, orchestrated the "execution-style" murder of Juan Raygoza, who had been cooperating with law enforcement. Raygoza's death was but a part of a series of actions meant to instill fear and ensure silence amongst those who would consider standing against the gang. Following the murder of Raygoza, two accomplices involved in the murder were themselves killed, and another was the target of an attempted hit.
This decisive sentence reflects the relentless efforts by law enforcement to hold criminals accountable, regardless of their attempts to control activities from the shadows of a prison cell. County Attorney Rachel Mitchell highlighted the gravity of Peterson's crime by stating, "This defendant murdered an individual for cooperating with law enforcement—an act that was meant to intimidate and silence others," as stated by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
The Chandler Police Department led the investigation, working with several agencies including the Mesa, Glendale, Phoenix, and Surprise Police Departments, the FBI, and the Arizona Department of Corrections. Peterson’s new sentence will start in 2029 after he finishes serving time for his current convictions. Deputy County Attorneys Daniel Fisher and Ellen Dahl were praised by Mitchell for their strong prosecution of Peterson, as per the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
