Opinion ID: 783483
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Conspiracy and Murder of Charles Manriquez

Text: 21 On March 25, 1992, Gallardo shot and killed Mexican Mafia member Charles Charlie Brown Manriquez in the Ramona Gardens housing project (Ramona Gardens). Gallardo shot Manriquez six times. The police recovered several .380 caliber semi-automatic shell casings at the scene and three .380 caliber bullets from Manriquez's body. 22 E. Castro testified that in 1991 while at Chino State Prison, E. Castro, Manriquez, and other Mexican Mafia members agreed to stab two individuals named Colorado and Smiley. E. Castro stabbed Colorado, but Manriquez failed to stab Smiley despite two opportunities to do so. When Peters later transferred to Chino State Prison, E. Castro informed him of Manriquez's cowardice. Peters told E. Castro to do whatever he felt was right, which E. Castro interpreted as meaning he could kill Manriquez. 23 About a week after his release from custody, E. Castro met separately with Gallardo and Therrien, who agreed that they should kill Manriquez (now also out of custody) for his cowardice. Gallardo agreed to do the killing. E. Castro obtained a handgun from Therrien and gave it to Gallardo. One week later, Gallardo told E. Castro that he shot Manriquez in the face and when Manriquez turned and ran, he shot him in the back. 24 The indictment charged the conspiracy and murder of Manriquez as a racketeering act, and the jury found the crimes proven as to Gallardo, Peters, and Therrien. The jury also convicted (1) Gallardo and Therrien of Manriquez's murder to maintain or increase their positions in a RICO enterprise; and (2) Gallardo of knowingly carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to the murder.