NINE FROM MEXICAN MAFIA CONVICTED OF RACKETEERING

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Nine members and associates of the prison-based Mexican
Mafia were convicted in federal court yesterday of such charges as
racketeering, conspiracy to murder and drug trafficking.

Each could receive sentences of up to life in prison. A 10th defendant was
acquitted by the U.S. District Court jury on two charges, but jurors could
not agree on two other counts after 24 days of deliberations after a
five-month trial. He will be retried on those charges, prosecutors said.

The government said the defendants carried out a continuing criminal
enterprise that controlled drug distribution and other illegal activities
in Latino communities and inside prisons.

Prosecutors said drug dealers and street gangs were forced to pay what
amounted to a tax for trafficking in their neighborhoods. Failure to do so
brought assaults and killings, the government said.

Defense attorneys insisted that there was no organized criminal enterprise
but instead a collection of hoodlums fighting for power.

Some of the defendant's attorneys said their clients were simply big
talkers who boasted about crimes they never committed.

Frank Fernandez, 53, of Palmdale, was convicted of 11 of 13 counts of
racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to distribute
drugs, conspiracy to distribute drugs in prison or jail and conspiracy to
commit murder.

The trial's first prosecution witness, Max Torvisco, 24, told jurors that
Fernandez was in charge of all Mexican Mafia operations in Los Angeles' San
Fernando Valley, earning about $1,500 a week.

The group held meetings attended by as many as 300 gang members in charge
of various sections of Los Angeles and Orange counties, Torvisco testified.

Others convicted on charges of racketeering, conspiracy to commit
racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to distribute drugs
and conspiracy to distribute drugs in jail or prison were Jimmy Sanchez,
41, of Mendota, and Robert Cervantes, 35, of Artesia.

Dominick Gonzalez, 23, of Palmdale, was convicted of racketeering,
conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to distribute drugs,
conspiracy to commit murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Others convicted of conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to
distribute drugs were: Juan Garcia, 39, of Los Angeles; Roy Gavaldon, 43,
of Santa Fe Springs; David Gonzalez-Contreras, 30, of Los Angeles; and
Sally Peters, 46, of Santa Ana.

Suzanne Schoenberg, 28, of Paramount was convicted of conspiracy to commit
racketeering, conspiracy to distribute drugs and conspiracy to distribute
drugs in prison or in jail.