Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 02/14/07

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Cook Chief Deputy District Attorney: Diana Gomez

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN 2002 STABBING

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that Benjamin Moreno was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in state prison for the August 25, 2002, stabbing of William Rodriguez and Grame Kanongataa on Hearn Avenue in the city of Santa Rosa. In December, 2003, the grand jury indicted Moreno and 13 other Sureno gang members as a result of the attacks.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, "Gang members who commit brutal acts of violence in our community will be found, held accountable and punished."

Late last year, Moreno pled guilty to attempted murder, causing great bodily injury, and committing the crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang. In addition to the attempted murder plea, Moreno also pled guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and admitted to personally causing great bodily injury against a second victim, as well as committing the crime to benefit a criminal street gang. Moreno also entered a guilty plea in a separate case for possession of narcotics for sale and committing the crime to benefit a criminal street gang.

In total, 9 other gang members: Luis Santana; Anthony Hernandez, Jose Gomez, Mauricio Cuevas, Martin Mesa, Alfredo Delgado, Efrain Gonzalez, Cesar Ramirez, and Sergio Zarate, pled guilty to various charges in this brutal attack and were given various sentences of up to 24 years in state prison. An arrest warrant is outstanding for one other gang member, Jesus Flores. Moreno was in hiding in Mexico prior to his arrest in December of 2004.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Diana Gomez is the assigned trial prosecutor. Detective Joe Heath, retired, of the Santa Rosa Police Department, District Attorney Investigator Denise Urton, and District Attorney Legal Assistant Dava Kohlman assisted in the prosecution.