Two members of an Orange County street gang were convicted Wednesday of murdering a man during an armed robbery orchestrated under the direction of the Mexican Mafia, federal prosecutors announced.

Ysrael Jacob Cordova, 41, of Placentia, and Ricardo Valenzuela, 44, of Buena Park, were each found guilty of one count of murder in aid of racketeering. The charges stem from a January 2017 robbery in which the defendants were accused of targeting a victim identified only as R.R. While attempting to rob R.R. at gunpoint, Cordova shot and killed the man, prosecutors said.

The racketeering designation carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, reflecting that the crime was committed to maintain the defendants’ status within a criminal organization. The Mexican Mafia, also known as La Eme, is a prison gang known for exerting significant control over Latino street gangs in Southern California. Leaders of the gang, who are incarcerated, direct illegal activities on the streets, collecting proceeds from drug sales, gambling, and other offenses. Individuals who defy these orders are subject to violent retaliation.

Cordova and Valenzuela were reportedly following instructions from two Mexican Mafia members who remained behind bars at the time of the crime. Johnny Martinez, 50, known as “Crow,” was incarcerated at Salinas Valley State Prison in Monterey County and allegedly oversaw criminal operations both inside prisons and on the streets of Orange County. Gregory Muñoz, 38, also known by multiple aliases including “Lou” and “Snoopy,” was serving time at Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County and acted as an intermediary, relaying orders to Cordova and Valenzuela.

The pair were among 31 individuals charged in a sweeping 33-count federal grand jury indictment in 2022 targeting Mexican Mafia associates and gang members implicated in murder, drug trafficking, and illegal firearms offenses. At the time of the indictment, 21 defendants were already detained, resulting in 15 convictions secured so far.

Muñoz is slated to stand trial in July 2027 on charges related to the same criminal enterprise. Martinez and six other defendants face trial in August 2027 on allegations including drug trafficking, firearms violations, and involvement in violent crimes committed on behalf of the gang.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli emphasized the commitment to prosecuting gang violence, stating, “We will never tolerate senseless acts of gang violence on the streets, especially those ordered by convicted felons behind bars. We will vigorously prosecute gang violence to keep our community safe and to provide justice for the victims.”