Nine individuals were charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, eight of whom are alleged to be associates of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, were charged for their roles in a conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, shooting at an occupied vehicle, and extortion of an individual for perceived violations of Mexican Mafia rules. An additional individual was charged with providing assistance to one of the defendants by removing evidence in the form of expended ammunition casings of the attempted murder.
Beginning in July 2026, the FBI’s San Gabriel Valley Safe Streets Task Force and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau have been investigating an attempted murder that took place in the city of Pomona, as well as the ongoing extortion of the intended victim. The victim was required to pay an extortion in order to not be targeted with violence in Pomona, and to have a vehicle returned that was taken as part of the extortion.
According to investigators and deputy district attorneys who filed the case, the attempted murder, murder conspiracy, and extortion are alleged to have been coordinated by several high-ranking associates of the Mexican Mafia over a perceived debt owed by the victim, an act considered to be a serious violation of the criminal organization.
During the investigation, the victim was placed on an “86” list, banned from entering the city of Pomona or illegal casinos run by the Mexican Mafia under the threat of death. The victim also had a vehicle taken as part of the extortion.
When the victim was observed driving on a residential street in the city of Pomona in July 2026, an individual is alleged to have shot 12 to 15 rounds from a handgun, while continuously walking towards the victim’s vehicle while shooting. The victim’s vehicle was struck at least three times by the gunfire. An additional vehicle parked in front of a church was struck at least four times, including on the driver’s side headrest.
After the shooting, an individual is alleged to have cleaned up the spent ammunition casings, preventing law enforcement from collecting them as evidence and preventing any forensic evidence from being acquired.
After the attempted murder of the victim, associates of the Mexican Mafia contacted the victim, extorting the victim for $2,000 to remove the threat of violence and facilitate the return of the victim’s vehicle.
Search warrants served during the investigation and on October 7, 2026, resulted in the seizure of approximately $200,000 in cash, methamphetamine, and 11 illegal firearms that were not serialized or had obliterated serial numbers, also known as “ghost guns.”
The following defendants charged in this case were taken into custody on October 7, 2026, at their place of residence:
- Jose Montano, 34, of Compton, California
- Stephane Lechuga, 25, of Ontario, California
- Joseph Rizo, 56, of Chino Hills, California
- Irving Cisneros, 34, of Hacienda Heights, California
- Jovana Reyes, 37, of Monterey Park, California
- Ruben Figueroa, 48, of Pomona, California
An additional two defendants, listed below, are being sought by the task force:
- Jeffrey Griffin, 44, of Montclair, California
- David Arenas, 30, of Pomona, California
The following defendant charged in this case is currently incarcerated on unrelated charges:
- Jose Argumedo, 47, of Monterey Park, California
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s San Gabriel Valley Safe Streets Task Force and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau. The case is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office – Prison Crimes Unit.
The FBI’s San Gabriel Valley Safe Streets Task Force is comprised of law enforcement officers and special agents from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pomona Police Department, El Monte Police Department, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation-Special Services Unit, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department-Operation Safe Jails, and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department-Major Crimes Bureau.
The task force was formed in 2008 and is sponsored by the Pomona Police Department, where the task force is headquartered.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Crimes Bureau is responsible for conducting investigations and providing investigative services to agencies county-wide. In part, the Major Crimes Bureau specializes in organized crime and prison-gang investigations.