Mexican Mafia Member Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison

United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that United States District Judge M. James Lorenz sentenced Jose Alberto Marquez, a.k.a. “Bat,” to a sentence of life in prison, based on his jury trial conviction for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. A federal jury convicted Marquez on March 11, 2011, following a four-day trial.

According to evidence presented at trial, Marquez is a documented member of the Mexican Mafia, a prison gang based out of Southern California. Jurors learned during the course of the trial that the Mexican Mafia uses violence and extortion to exert influence in both state and federal prisons and on the streets of Southern California. Leaders in the Mexican Mafia, like Marquez, are called Members. While most Members are in custody, they are still able to direct the activities of local gang members who are out of custody. These gang members constitute the associates and soldiers of the Mexican Mafia.

Marquez, a United States citizen and Del Sol gang member, was extradited from Mexico to the United States in January 2007 on other charges and placed in federal custody to await trial. Jurors learned that shortly thereafter, in April 2007, Marquez orchestrated a methamphetamine deal from his jail cell involving multiple Mexican Mafia associates.

Witnesses testified that Marquez used a telephone at the jail to contact multiple Mexican Mafia associates and soldiers in order to obtain and sell methamphetamine. Those calls were recorded. Witnesses testified that despite the fact that Marquez was in custody, he was able to get people on the outside to follow his orders due to the Mexican Mafia’s reputation for violent acts against those who disobeyed. Jurors heard phone calls from Marquez to associates who were out of custody, during which he orchestrated the methamphetamine transaction. They also watched undercover video of the transaction.

Prior to the trial, the United States filed notice with the court that Marquez had previously been convicted of two prior drug trafficking felonies, therefore subjecting him to a mandatory life sentence.

This case is the product of an investigation conducted by the San Diego Violent Crimes Task Force - Gang Group into the illegal activities of the Mexican Mafia prison gang.

Case Number: 08cr2019L

DEFENDANT
Jose Alberto Marquez, a.k.a. “Bat” Age: 51

SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, 841(a)(1) - Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine
Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) - Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Police Department
San Diego County Sheriff’s Office
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
San Diego County Probation
Federal Bureau of Prisons
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Special Services Unit