Odyssey Carrillo, a member of the Emerald Hills Bloods gang, received a 168-month prison sentence in federal court for his involvement in a racketeering conspiracy. This case involved coordinated violent crimes by street gangs.
Carrillo was the last of nine defendants to be sentenced. He pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through racketeering activity and Hobbs Act robbery. The gang's criminal activities included armed robbery, sex trafficking, prostitution, and other illegal endeavors aimed at profit.
The defendants were charged under the racketeering conspiracy statute, originally designed to combat organized crime syndicates. As street gangs have grown more sophisticated in their criminal operations, this statute has become an effective tool against such organized violent conduct.
Other defendants previously sentenced include Jerome Brunson, Cedric Jordan, Stephen Nathaniel Calhoun Jr., Carl Moore, Maurice Johnson, Dajay Leon Scott, Taashawn Henderson, and Sergio Valentin Louden.
In his plea agreement, Carrillo admitted to joining a conspiracy that engaged in racketeering activities like robbery and sex trafficking. He specifically confessed to participating in two armed robberies: one on January 19, 2019, at San Carlos Jewelers and another on February 11, 2019, at Bert Levi Family Jewelers in San Diego.
Calhoun also admitted to robbing the Medicine Shoppe at gunpoint on May 20, 2019. Both Calhoun and Moore acknowledged their membership in the Lincoln Park Bloods (LPK) gang; Carrillo confirmed his affiliation with the Emerald Hills gang. These gangs often collaborated on criminal activities.
According to plea agreements, Jerome Brunson admitted his participation as an LPK member in a November 19, 2019 armed robbery at Jared’s jewelry store in National City. Judge Cynthia Bashant sentenced him to 57 months in custody. Dajay Scott and Sergio Louden were involved in purse thefts outside nail salons in January 2020 and received sentences of 48 months and 72 months respectively.
Cedric Jordan, Maurice Johnson, and Taashawn Henderson participated in sex trafficking offenses as part of the conspiracy. They received sentences ranging from 58 to 63 months.
Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden stated that "every member of our community is put at risk when criminal street gangs engage in armed robberies," emphasizing teamwork between local and federal law enforcement agencies using RICO tools for justice.
FBI San Diego Special Agent Stacey Moy remarked on the collaboration among multiple agencies that led to dismantling this organized crime conspiracy: "The violent crime and gang threats are too diverse...for any of us to tackle alone."
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mario J. Peia, Katherine E.A. McGrath, and Matthew Brehm.