Gang Members Indicted In San Mateo Jail Fight
SAN MATEO (CBS SF) -- A grand jury has indicted 23 gang members for their role in a San Mateo County jail brawl that left four guards and two inmates injured, authorities announced Thursday.
According to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office, the gang members where incarcerated at the facility at the time of fight in October 2015.
Those indicted were: Salvador Aguilar, 19, East Palo Alto; Michael Blanco, 40, San Jose; Abayomi Brown, 36, San Jose; Brian Esqueda-Perez, 20, Burlingame; Jose Gomez, 21, Redwood City; Jorge Ledwell, 22, Redwood City; Daniel Macias, 24, Redwood City; Daniel Maldonado, 33, Menlo Park; Jaime Moran, 23, Redwood City; Jose Nava, 21, South San Francisco; William Phillips, 36, Redwood City; Juan Ponce, 24, South San Francisco; Michael Rodriguez, 52, Redwood City; Kenneth Salazar, 22, San Mateo; Saul Tapia, 19, Redwood City; William Whitebone, 30, Pacifica; Carlos Yepez, 21, Redwood City; and Florentino Zavala, 19, Redwood City.
The remaining 5 suspects have not yet had their court hearing.
On October 21, 2015, while at the Maguire Correctional Facility, 23 gang members intentionally assaulted another group while in the common area of a housing pod. The assault lasted for a little over a minute since Sheriff's Office jail staff quickly swarmed the area.
As a result of the attack, two victims were taken to a local hospital and treated for facial injuries. Four sheriff's office staff members also sustained minor injuries.
The investigation into the incident lasted several months.
The case was presented to the grand jury, who indicted all 23 suspects for assault with intent to inflict great bodily injury and other gang related enhancements. As a result, arrest warrants were obtained for the 23 involved suspects.
Of the 23 suspects, 8 were no longer in custody and 7 had been transferred to other state facilities. Between Aug. 31 to Sept. 7, San Mateo County officers with the gang task force were able to track down and arrest 7 of 8 outstanding suspects in the cities of Redwood City and San Jose. One suspect is still outstanding.
The suspects were booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility for their respective arrest warrants and remain in custody with bail ranging from $225,000 to $775,000.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call the San Mateo County GIU Anonymous Tip Line at 1-888-400-GANG (4264)