Andrew Alvarado, a member of the Norteño street gang based in Salinas, entered a guilty plea in federal court to charges of racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering. At 34, Alvarado was indicted alongside multiple co-defendants by a federal grand jury on October 15, 2020.
The court documents outline that Alvarado was part of the "Murder Squad," a faction of the Norteño gang, operating under the Monterey County Regiment Enterprise linked to the Nuestra Familia prison gang. The "Murder Squad" engaged in lethal activities targeting rival gang members using tactical approaches involving organized convoys with designated roles for shooters and spotters.
Alvarado admitted involvement in six such operations between January and May of 2017, taking the role of the shooter in three instances, leading to three fatalities and one injury. In the other operations, Alvarado contributed as a spotter, resulting in three more deaths and four injuries.
The announcement came from Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins, alongside Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Tatum King.
Previously, five co-defendants of Alvarado pleaded guilty to similar charges in May 2024 and received sentences ranging from 25 to 41 years in prison that September.
Andrew Alvarado is scheduled for sentencing on July 15, 2025. He could face up to life imprisonment, with fines up to $250,000 under violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) and up to 10 years and $250,000 fines for conspiracy to commit murder under 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5). The sentencing will be determined in accordance with the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is part of a broader investigation led by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. The agencies involved aim to dismantle criminal networks through cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement. The investigation included efforts by HSI and the Salinas Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Hageman and Mari Overbeck prosecuting the case.