Ismail J. Ramsey, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California
Four leaders of the Nuestra Familia prison gang have been sentenced to federal prison terms ranging from 120 to 175 months for racketeering conspiracy. The sentences were handed down by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers following a trial in 2024. David Cervantes, also known as "DC," and James Perez, known as "Conejo," each received 120-month sentences. Guillermo Solorio, referred to as "Capone" or "Caps," and George Franco, known as "Puppet," were sentenced to 175 months each.
The trial established that the defendants—Cervantes, aged 76; Perez, aged 70; Solorio, aged 45; and Franco, aged 59—were senior members of the Nuestra Familia gang's General Council. This council is the primary decision-making body for the gang. Court documents revealed their involvement in a criminal enterprise engaged in murder conspiracies, attempted murder, drug distribution, and money laundering.
Cervantes was one of three Generals overseeing the NF organizational structure through the General Advocates Office. He was responsible for member discipline decisions within the gang. Perez served as General of Prisons and maintained authority over NF activities within California prisons. Franco was part of the Inner Council and acted as Regimental Commander of San Joaquin County. Solorio also served on the Inner Council and commanded Monterey County's street regiment.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian stated: “The brutal violence and drug trafficking that this criminal enterprise ran from within state prisons touched every county in the Bay Area.” He added that these convictions would not have been possible without collaboration across multiple agencies.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani remarked: “The sentencing of these four top Nuestra Familia gang leaders marks the final chapter in the successful dismantling of one of the most violent and entrenched prison gangs operating in California.”
In total, forty members and associates of Nuestra Familia have been convicted and sentenced, including all seven members of its General Council.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mari Overbeck, Leif Dautch, and Aseem Padukone prosecuted this case with assistance from Veronica Hernandez and Kevin Costello. The investigation involved numerous law enforcement agencies including FBI divisions from San Francisco, Sacramento, Phoenix; DEA; ATF; U.S. Marshal Service; various sheriff’s offices; police departments across California; Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office; among others.
This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces initiative aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations threatening public safety through coordinated efforts between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
