A Mendota man now faces federal prison time after a jury convicted him this week of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and attempted murder tied to an MS-13 clique that authorities say terrorized the small Central Valley city with violence, extortion and drug deals.
According to a post from FBI Sacramento, court documents and testimony showed the defendant, identified in filings as Orellana, sold drugs, extorted residents, patrolled the streets looking for rival gang members and took part in plans to murder others. The post noted that a federal grand jury charged multiple MS-13 members, including Orellana, with conspiring to protect MS-13 territory, burnish the gang’s reputation, keep members in line and raise money for the organization.
🚨Case update! 🚨
— FBI Sacramento (@FBISacramento) July 22, 2026
A #Mendota man has been found guilty of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and attempted murder for his ongoing involvement in aid of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang. Court documents and trial testimony showed that he participated in the… pic.twitter.com/orxKb8vlMC
Part of a multi-agency task force effort
Prosecutors framed the conviction as another chapter in a long-running, multi-agency homeland security task force push against MS-13 in the Central Valley. As outlined by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, earlier prosecutions involving the same clique exposed kidnappings, murders, extortion and drug trafficking, which in turn helped trigger coordinated federal and state crackdowns.
What comes next
Officials have not yet announced a sentencing date. Under federal procedure, a judge will set the punishment after reviewing presentence reports and related materials. The FBI post did not clarify whether additional defendants in the case are still awaiting trial or whether any plea agreements are in the works.
Local impact
For years, law enforcement officials have said MS-13’s presence in Mendota left residents on edge and upended daily routines in the largely agricultural community. Local leaders have credited sustained federal attention with removing several violent gang members in earlier operations, while community advocates caution that rebuilding trust with residents is likely to be a slower, more fragile process.
Legal notes
Conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise is charged under federal RICO statutes and, when tied to violent acts, can carry lengthy prison terms. Attempted murder is prosecuted as a separate felony. The final scope of penalties in this case will be determined at sentencing after the court reviews the legal filings and any victim impact statements.
