Two MS-13 gang members convicted in connection with Fresno County crimes, DOJ says
Two MS-13 gang members have been convicted in connection with a high-profile law enforcement probe that made headlines a year-and-a-half ago for targeting street violence in Fresno County.
Authorities identified Claudia Lizaola and Brenda Morales as two MS-13 members involved in trafficking methamphetamine and cocaine from Southern California into Fresno County.
Lizaola, 40, of San Bernardino was sentenced on Monday to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and intent to distribute controlled substances, according to a statement from the Justice Department.
Morales pleaded guilty to being an undocumented immigrant in possession of a firearm. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 13.
Lizaola and Morales were among those arrested in an August 2018 operation by federal and local law enforcement officials in Mendota. Authorities at the time said the probe uncovered evidence in more than a dozen homicide cases in and around Mendota.
The remaining co-defendants facing federal charges are scheduled to go to trial on April 14.
According to federal court documents, Lizaola helped arrange the delivery of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana from her residence in Southern California to MS-13 members in Mendota.
Court records, however, also describe Lizaola as having a “much larger” role in the notorious street gang.
“On one occasion, she agreed to relay orders from one high-ranking MS-13 member to other high-rankings MS-13 members that they should go kill a victim (whose specific picture, address, and work schedule was provided) and take a picture as proof of their accomplishment,” court records say.
A separate case at the state level stemming from the same investigation also is in the works. A total of 13 alleged gang members have been indicted in the second case on allegations ranging from street terrorism to conspiracy. The state trial is set for Feb. 18.
MS-13 had a presence in Mendota, west of Fresno County, for at least a decade before federal and state law enforcement carried out the operation against the gang.
This story was originally published January 29, 2020 at 1:23 PM.
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