Member Of NoHo Gang Sentenced To 31 Years In Prison

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — A Sun Valley man who in 2016 shot rival gang members in North Hollywood was sentenced to 31 years in federal prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to five felonies.

Jesus Gonzalez Jr., 28, also known as "Lil Chito," "Gunner" and "Chuy," is a member of the San Fernando Valley-based Vineland Boys street gang. He pleaded guilty on Jan. 22 to one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, two counts of violent crime in aid of racketeering, one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.

According to court documents, the Vineland Boys took control of their "territory" in Sun Valley, North Hollywood and Burbank by shooting and assaulting rival gang members, controlling and conducting drug and firearms trafficking activity, extorting money in the form of "taxes" from drug dealers, and trafficking narcotics.

In April 2016, Gonzalez severely wounded one person and injured others in a drive-by shooting outside a Sun Valley party because Gonzalez believed the victim had insulted his gang, according to the news release. A few weeks later, he stalked and shot a rival gang member on Lankershim Boulevard – firing several shots in close range at the victim, who survived.

"In May 2016, Gonzalez and other Vineland Boys members drove next to a vehicle in North Hollywood near Lankershim Boulevard, and Gonzalez confronted and shot the other vehicle's passengers because he believed they were rival gang members," the news release said.

Gonzalez also sold methamphetamine and illegally sold firearms, according to the news release, and conspired with Vineland Boys members and associates to engage in acts of racketeering through attempted murder and drug trafficking.