The Home Invasion Gang
On September 10, 2003, after the arrest of its 5 principal members, Sheriff Les Weidman described this criminal street gang:
There was nothing nice about these people, they were nothing but ugly thugs. . . . During these invasions there was sexual abuse, at least one homeowner was shot, and many more were assaulted. . . . They were highly organized and left very little evidence for us to work with. . . .The scars left on the victims are forever.
All of the suspects
face charges of attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, assault with
a deadly weapon, home invasion robbery, and being members of a
criminal street gang, the Norteņos, operated from within the walls
of the Pelican Bay State Prison.
They also frequently used duct tape or clear packaging tape to bind
their victims. Laci had duct tape on her, and Conner had clear
plastic packaging tape around his neck.
To join the Norteņos and rise in its ranks takes years of studying
the gang's written constitution, training, and committing violent
crimes inside and outside of prison. One "test" a prospective member
must pass to join is to have committed at least one murder for "the
cause."
Have the members of this gang been questioned about their
whereabouts on December 24? Do they have solid alibis?
Home Invasion Robbery Timeline
May 20, 2002: Mathew Rodriguez, age 23, formerly of Modesto, forced his way into the victim's Oakdale Road apartment, put a gun to the victim's head, and marched the victim into the bedroom. Rodriguez struck the victim in the head with the gun. The victim played dead while Rodriguez ransacked the apartment. Rodriguez was convicted of home invasion robbery, burglary, assault with a firearm, evading a peace officer, and receiving stolen property on September 26, 2002.
October 22, 2002: David Anthony Silva, one of four masked men involved in a home invasion in Del Rio, an exclusive development north of Modesto. Authorities said the four masked men surprised a husband and wife as they slept about 4 a.m., woke them up at gunpoint and bound them with duct tape. Pete Cota, 35, of Salida, was apprehended 2 days later in possession of goods stolen in the robbery. Silva was apprehended on September 10, 2003. The other two suspects had not been identified as of November 9, 2003.
December 24, 11:40 a.m. Diane Jackson saw three men and a mysterious tan van in front of the Medina home, which is just across the street from the Petersons. One rear van door was open, the other ajar.
In interviewing Jackson, police displayed pictures of three men suspected of being the trio she spotted in front of the Medina home. The pictures were of men who previously performed yard work for Jackson, and clearly different from the men Jackson saw in front of the Medina home, according to the account. Jackson later underwent hypnosis at the police department to help her remember more details.
Police eventually discounted the sightings of the van, saying it belonged to landscapers. However, Jackson says she saw no landscaping equipment with the three men. Jackson said the men were short with dark complexions and appeared Asian or Hispanic.
The Medina home was burglarized sometime between early morning December 24 and the Medina's return on the 26th. LE concluded that the burglary took place in the early morning hours of the 26th and arrested two men, neither of whom fit Jackson's description. However, the Medinas are certain the burglary took place on the 24th, and camera crews already lined the street by the morning of the 26th, making it unlikely that the two thieves could have carried a safe out to the front lawn without being noticed.
The Medinas' concern from the beginning was that Laci was abducted when she interrupted the burglary of their home.
January 3, 2003: 10:19 p.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 600 Blk. River Road, Modesto.
February 19, 2003: Nathaniel Helton and David Anthony Silva, 29, of Modesto, who is still at large, were wanted in connection to an alleged kidnapping that took place in Modesto. The men allegedly kidnapped a woman at gunpoint, but she was later able to escape from them following a pursuit by the California Highway Patrol. Helton was arrested in March.
February 21, 2003: 1:38 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 1300 Blk. Tenaya Drive, Modesto.
March 27, 2003: 2:32 p.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 2037 5th St., Keyes.
April 2, 2003: 7:36 p.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 1200 Blk. Fig Avenue, Patterson.
April 4, 2003: 10:37 p.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 4400 Blk. Esmer Rd., Ceres.
April 17, 2003: 12:56 p.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 1400 Blk. Greenlawn Ave., Modesto.
May 8, 2003: 12:04 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 1400 Blk. Glenn Avenue, Modesto.
May 21, 2003: 2:57 p.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 4300 Blk. East Taylor Rd., Denair.
May 23, 2003: 4:43 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 7600 Blk. East Keyes Rd., Denair.
May 25, 2003: 12:01 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 5200 Blk. 10th Street, Keyes. Involved David Anthony Silva, Anthony Lawrence Martinez, and David Wayne Morrison.
June 15, 2003: 3:18 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 4100 Blk. Windgate Drive, Denair.
June 26, 2003: 12:30 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 3600 Blk. East Avenue, Turlock. Involved David Anthony Silva, Anthony Lawrence Martinez, and David Wayne Morrison.
June 30, 2003: 3:10 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 2000 Blk. Brier Road, Turlock.
July 15, 2003: 4:30 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 900 Blk. California Ave, Modesto. Involved David Anthony Silva, Anthony Lawrence Martinez, and David Wayne Morrison.
July 16, 2003: 12:18 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 5100 Blk. Loretta Way, Empire.
July 21, 2003: Dehli. Home invasion robbery involving David Anthony Silva, Anthony Lawrence Martinez, and David Wayne Morrison.
July 24, 2003: 3:30 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 600 Blk. Verduga Rd., Turlock. Involved David Anthony Silva, Anthony Lawrence Martinez, and David Wayne Morrison.
August 4, 2003: Merced. Home invasion robbery involving David Anthony Silva, Anthony Lawrence Martinez, and David Wayne Morrison.
August 7, 2003: 12:45 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 900 Blk. North Olive Avenue, Turlock. Involved David Anthony Silva, Anthony Lawrence Martinez, and David Wayne Morrison.
August 11, 2003: 5:41 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 5700 Blk. Pioneer Rd., Keyes. Involved David Anthony Silva, Anthony Lawrence Martinez, and David Wayne Morrison.
August 12, 2003: 3:30 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 4400 Blk. Moore Rd., Ceres. Involved David Anthony Silva, Anthony Lawrence Martinez, and David Wayne Morrison.
August 15, 2003: 3:00 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 1500 Blk. East Keyes Rd., Ceres. Involved David Anthony Silva, Anthony Lawrence Martinez, and David Wayne Morrison.
August 21, 2003: Modesto. Home invasion robbery about 1 a.m. on Miller Avenue, just off El Vista Avenue between Scenic Drive and Yosemite Boulevard north of Modesto Airport. Police said two gunmen ducked under a partially open garage door and confronted four men who were playing darts. A third robber stood guard outside. The robbers used clear plastic packing tape to bind the men's hands and legs, Sgt. Craig Plante said. They took wallets, jewelry and other property from the victims, then ransacked the house. The gang also escaped with an unknown amount of cash from a safe.
August 21, 2003: Concerned citizens met with the Sheriff's department in Turlock. The Sheriff's department admitted it had no leads that would result in imminent arrests, and were not even sure if the robberies were the work of a single crew. Modesto LE said that the home invasion in Modesto that same morning did not appear to be connected to the other robberies.
August 25, 2003: 4:10 a.m. Home Invasion Robbery at 4900 Blk. Elm Street, Salida.
September 10, 2003: 5 individuals were cornered and apprehended in this home invasion robbery at a rural home in the 3300 block of Swanson Road in Hickman. Darlene Fouse, 29, of Modesto was the alleged getaway driver and was caught fleeing the car. David Michael Silva, Sr., 54 of Hilmar, fled from the getaway car and was found hiding in a backyard shed on South Avenue in Turlock. David Anthony Silva, Jr., 29 of Riverbank was witnessed shooting directly at Sheriffs deputies when fleeing from the getaway car. Anthony Lawrence Martinez, 22 of Turlock, fled from the getaway car and was found hiding in a backyard of a resident. David Wayne Morrison, 20 of Delhi, fled from the getaway car and was found hiding inside a home in the 600 block of South Avenue.
September 10, 2003: 6 others believed associated with the home invasion robberies were arrested. Virginia Elizabeth Ellsworth-Dudek, 24 of Hilmar was arrested for Accessory to a Crime(s), Attempted Murder and Home Invasion Robbery. Jeanette Anna Rodriguez, 37 of Delhi was arrested for Accessory to a Crime(s), Home Invasion Robbery, Criminal Conspiracy, and criminal street gang enhancement. Dale Shamblin, 41 of Turlock was arrested on a Calif. State Parole violation. He was arrested at a Turlock home where investigators found stolen property from at least one previous home invasion robbery. Gwen Katrina Gregg, 26 of Turlock, was arrested on an unrelated auto theft and return to custody warrants. Investigators believe she could be facing additional charges related to the home invasion robberies. Mario Hernandez, 22 of Turlock, was arrested on an unrelated drug warrant. He was found at the same home where suspect David Wayne Morrison was hiding. Della Gonzales, 32, Delhi, was arrested at a Turlock jewelry store after she tried to pawn some diamonds that were stolen during a home invasion robbery in Merced.
September 12, 2003: Stanislaus Country Press Update, including photos and booking information for the 10 suspects arrested on September 10. Also a picture of the 11th person arrested by the task force.
October 11, 2003: Efforts by the Prosecution to seal search warrant documents related to the home invasion activities in northern San Joaquin Valley. Prosecutors claim the documents should be sealed because the investigation is on-going. Investigators have said 11 the defendants are part of a criminal gang linked to a majority of 22 home invasions in the area between January and September.
October 18, 2003: The court released two affidavits and search warrants, dated Sept. 10 and 11, issued by Judge McFadden, but did not the documents related to seven warrants issued prior to Sept. 2. The unsealed warrants describe eight of the home invasion robberies, and tell what residents said happened -- including two sex assaults on women. On the judge's order, the women's names are blacked out in the copies made available to the public. The judge also withheld about a page of other information from both affidavits, which could endanger a confidential informant.
October 22, 2003: A Stanislaus County grand jury handed up a 50-count felony indictment against five of the 11 people arrested in September in a string of home invasion robberies. The indictment names David Silva, 29, of Riverbank; his father, David Michael Silva, 54, of Hilmar; Anthony Lawrence Martinez, 22, of Turlock; David Wayne Morrison, 20, of Delhi; and Darlene Fouse, 29, of Modesto. The indictment charges Martinez, Morrison and the younger Silva with committing 53 crimes while carrying out 12 robberies from May 25 to Sept. 10, including May 15 in Keyes, June 26 in Turlock, July 15 in Modesto, July 21 in Delhi, July 24 in Turlock, Aug. 4 in Merced, Aug. 7 in Turlock, Aug. 11 in Delhi, Aug. 11 in Hughson, Aug. 12 and Aug. 15 in Ceres, and Sep. 10 in Denair. The indictment charges that they committed the crimes to benefit the Norteņos street gang.
Home Invasion Bibliography
Effort made to seal warrants
ModBee, October 11, 2003. Report on efforts by the Prosecution to seal search warrant documents related to the home invasion activities in northern San Joaquin Valley. Prosecutors claim the documents should be sealed because the investigation is on-going. Investigators have said 11 the defendants are part of a criminal gang linked to a majority of 22 home invasions in the area between January and September.
Home Invasion Fear Escalates: Hundreds Go to Turlock Meeting; Similar crime occurs in Modesto
ModBee, August 22, 2003. The fear of home invasions multiplied as Modesto police dealt with an early morning attack and close to 300 people gathered in Turlock for a meeting with high-ranking sheriff's officers. The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department has logged 13 home invasion robberies this year around Turlock, Keyes and Ceres -- including four between Aug. 8 and Aug. 15. Others have occurred in northern Merced County. Most of the home invasion robberies have happened between midnight and 6 a.m. And while many of the crimes have similarities, sheriff's investigators have stopped short of saying the invasions are the work of one crew. A Modesto police investigator, however, gave some hints when he reported that Thursday morning's home invasion in his jurisdiction did not appear to be connected to the other robberies.
Home Invasion Robbers Nabbed by Law Enforcement
Press Release, Stanislaus Co. Sheriff's Dept., September 10, 2003. Facts and details on the home invasion robbery at a rural home in the 3300 block of Swanson Road in Hickman. Drive of the getaway car and 4 passengers arrested.
Home invasion suspect charged in 2002 robbery
ModBee, Nov 9, 2003. David Anthony Silva, one of four masked men involved in a home invasion in Del Rio, an exclusive development north of Modesto. Authorities said the four masked men surprised a husband and wife as they slept about 4 a.m., woke them up at gunpoint and bound them with duct tape. Article includes history of the stakeouts which resulted in Silva's arrest.
Judge unseals two invasion case documents
ModBee, October 18, 2003. The court released two affidavits and search warrants, dated Sept. 10 and 11, issued by Judge McFadden, but did not the documents related to seven warrants issued prior to Sept. 2. The unsealed warrants describe eight of the home invasion robberies, and tell what residents said happened -- including two sex assaults on women. On the judge's order, the women's names are blacked out in the copies made available to the public. The judge also withheld about a page of other information from both affidavits, which could endanger a confidential informant.
Jury indicts invasion suspects
ModBee, October 22, 2003. A Stanislaus County grand jury has handed up a 50-count felony indictment against five of the 11 people arrested last month in a string of home invasion robberies. The indictment names David Silva, 29, of Riverbank; his father, David Michael Silva, 54, of Hilmar; Anthony Lawrence Martinez, 22, of Turlock; David Wayne Morrison, 20, of Delhi; and Darlene Fouse, 29, of Modesto. The indictment charges Martinez, Morrison and the younger Silva with committing 53 crimes while carrying out 12 robberies from May 25 to Sept. 10, including May 15 in Keyes, June 26 in Turlock, July 15 in Modesto, July 21 in Delhi, July 24 in Turlock, Aug. 4 in Merced, Aug. 7 in Turlock, Aug. 11 in Delhi, Aug. 11 in Hughson, Aug. 12 and Aug. 15 in Ceres, and Sep. 10 in Denair. The indictment charges that they committed the crimes to benefit the Norteņos street gang.
Mathew Rodriguez Convicted of Home Invasion Robbery
Stanislaus County Press Release, September 26, 2002. Rodriguez was convicted of home invasion robbery, burglary, assault with a firearm, evading a peace officer, and receiving stolen property. On May 22, 2003, Rodriguez forced his way into the victim's Oakdale Road apartment, put a gun to the victim's head, and marched the victim into the bedroom. Rodriguez struck the victim in the head with the gun. The victim played dead while Rodriguez ransacked the apartment.
Police standoff ends peacefully
Manteca Bulletin Online, March 05, 2003. Nathaniel Helton and David Anthony Silva, 29, of Modesto, who is still at large, were wanted in connection to an alleged kidnapping that took place in Modesto. The men allegedly kidnapped a woman at gunpoint, but she was later able to escape from them following a pursuit by the California Highway Patrol. Helton was arrested in the standoff reported in this article. The article also reports on the failed efforts to apprehend Silva.
Prison gang case puts role of FBI informants under scrutiny
San Francisco Chronicle, November 29, 2003. Very detailed report on how the "Nuestra Familia" gang members (aka Norteņos) operate within the prison system and the FBI's $5 million crime-fighting effort dubbed Operation Black Widow, in which several Nuestra Familia members agreed to become FBI informants; they wanted protection when they found themselves on the gang's hit list, or they cut a deal as the government was about to indict them. To join Nuestra Familia and rise in its ranks takes years of studying the gang's written constitution, training, and committing violent crimes inside and outside of prison. One "test" a prospective member must pass to join is to have committed at least one murder for "the cause."
Rash of home invasions impact farm families
California Farm Bureau Federation, September 3, 2003. This year, the unincorporated areas of Stanislaus County have been hit with 19 home invasion robberies, compared to only six last year. Thirteen of the robberies took place in Keyes, Ceres and Turlock. The others occurred in the unincorporated areas of Modesto, Salida, Hughson, Waterford and Patterson. Merced County LE also reported a few home invasions as well.
Stanislaus County Sheriff's Dept. Table of robberies in 2003, including date, time, location, and town/city. Also includes statistics for total residential robberies for 2000-2003.
Suspect Charges & Bail Information: 2003 Home Invasion Robberies
Stanislaus County Press Update, September 12, 2003. Pictures and booking information on 10 individuals arrested in connection with the Home Invasion Robberies. Added is the photo Della Gonzales, arrested in a jewelry store in Turlock after she tried to pawn some diamonds that were stolen during a home invasion robbery in Merced.
10 Suspects Captured Following Home Invasion
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