Mexican Mafia Associates Sentenced In Botched RivCo Murder Plan: DA

Crime & Safety

Mexican Mafia Associates Sentenced In Botched RivCo Murder Plan: DA A Hemet man who became entangled with the Mexican Mafia allegedly wanted out. It was a no-go unless he paid up.

— Two men with alleged ties to the Mexican Mafia were sentenced last week for the attempted murder of a Hemet man who wanted out.

Carl Ray Flores Jr., 48, and Brian Ramiro Inocencio, 28, were sentenced Friday by Riverside Superior Court Judge Johnnetta Anderson. Following their convictions last month on attempted murder and dissuading a witness, Flores was sentenced to 10 years plus 75 years to life; Inocencio received 47 years to life in prison.

According to prosecutors, in 2020, the Hemet man partnered with the Mexican Mafia to boost the profits of his drug business. His handler was Flores, a Moreno Valley gang shotcaller and "lieutenant" to a validated member of the Mexican Mafia. At the time, both Flores and the Mexican Mafia member were inmates at Centinela Prison in California's Imperial County.

Flores directed the Hemet man from prison and organized the sale and distribution of methamphetamine through him, prosecutors said.

The illicit business arrangement went sour when, in February 2021, the Hemet man was stopped by Riverside police and arrested for transporting methamphetamine.

Following the law enforcement encounter, the Hemet man told Flores he wanted out of the criminal enterprise.

Flores relayed that it was impossible to break ties unless the Hemet man repaid $5,000 lost for the seized drug haul.

When the victim couldn't pay, Flores directed Inocencio to kill him, prosecutors said.

For unclear reasons, in August 2021, Inocencio was invited to the Hemet man's house to celebrate his 50th birthday.

When Inocencio arrived at the party, he asked the host about the money owed to Flores.

Once again, the Hemet man said he didn't have it.

From there, Inocencio made a FaceTime call to Flores and then handed the phone to the Hemet man.

Flores' words to the party host: "You're dead."

Inocencio then shot the Hemet man multiple times before fleeing to Mexico, prosecutors said.

Unbelievably, the 50-year-old victim survived the shooting.

The Riverside County Gang Impact Team worked with the U.S. Marshal's Pacific Fugitive Task Force and Mexican law enforcement to locate Inocencio in Tijuana on Sept. 13, 2021. He was taken into custody the next day.

"The DA's Office pieced together the connection between Inocencio and Flores, and both men were charged with the attempted murder of the victim," the DA's Office said. "As the criminal case moved forward, both defendants actively engaged in attempts to dissuade witnesses from participating in the prosecution."

An update on the Hemet man's status was unavailable.