In a stark turn of events yesterday, two teenage gang members, identified as Andrew Nunez and Johncarlo Quintero, entered guilty pleas in a federal court on charges of murder and attempted murder. These actions were part of their role as hired hitmen for the notorious Sinaloa Cartel. On March 26, 2024, the young men twice attempted to assassinate a targeted individual in Chula Vista, resulting in two injuries and one fatality.
The defendants, in their plea agreements, admitted to acting on behalf of the Mexican Mafia-affiliated Westside Wilmas gang. Nunez and Quintero, both 15 at the time of the incident, drove to a Chili’s restaurant targeting a patron identified as Victim 1. Following Victim 1's departure with his family, Quintero attempted to shoot him, managing to wound his legs before a weapon malfunction thwarted further attempts. Nunez then tried, unsuccessfully, to hit Victim 1 with their getaway vehicle. Later that night, along with an older associate named Ricardo Sanchez, they attempted again to kill Victim 1 at his home, a violent escalation that resulted in Sanchez’s death and injuries to others present.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, the young hitmen were aiming to eliminate anyone in the so-called 'kill zone', including Victim 1 and a friend of the family, referred to as Victim 4. During the altercation, Victim 4 returned fire in self-defense, leading to Sanchez's death, a provocative-act murder to which both Nunez and Quintero also pleaded guilty. This case showcases a chilling exploitation of SB 1391, with cartels and gangs specifically recruiting minors under 16 for their violent deeds, understanding the legal loopholes that might preclude these juveniles from being charged as adults.
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon stated, per the U.S. Attorney's Office, "SB 1391 created perverse incentives, and today's plea agreements are proof that the Sinaloa Cartel and a hyper-violent criminal street gang controlled by the Mexican Mafia responded to these incentives." The federal government is now seeking to prosecute these underage criminals as adults, highlighting a response to cartel and gang violence that seeks to correct rather than overlook systemic failings. The FBI’s Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego Field Office, Mark Dargis, emphasized the bureau's dedication to disbanding such violent groups and their commitment to ensuring justice prevails.
With charges including Attempted Murder and Murder in Aid of Racketeering, Nunez and Quintero face severe sentences. They are scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2026, and it will be a decisive moment in what has become a showcase of the stark reality and tragic outcomes stemming from gang and cartel influence on vulnerable youth.
