Disturbing Cartel Planning Foiled
Three individuals linked to the Sinaloa cartel have been detained after allegedly attempting to recruit two teenagers from Los Angeles with a promise of $50,000 each to harm rival gang members at a Chili’s restaurant.
The men—Poli Antunez, 30, Antonio Quiñones, 27, and 20-year-old Giovani Enriquez—reportedly approached two 15-year-olds and a 28-year-old associate, enticing them with a significant payoff to eliminate their targets.
However, it seems these teenagers, perhaps believing they wouldn’t face adult charges if caught, were rather inept in their execution. They fell short in their plans across three incidents, including one in Chula Vista.
Adam Gordon, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California, expressed disdain for the adult figures involved, saying, “You want meanness. I hire teenagers to do the dirty work for the Sinaloa cartel.”
The teenagers, identified as members of the Mexican Mafia, have since been charged as adults. They pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder in December.
The intended target was allegedly selected due to prior conflicts between the Sinaloa Cartel and the Arellano Felix Cartel regarding stolen drug routes.
In an odd series of failures, the teens attempted to shoot the victim at Chili’s, but their weapon malfunctioned. They later tried to run the victim over with their vehicle, and even visited a target’s house in Tijuana, but he wasn’t home. Their last attempt ended in a shootout at the victim’s residence, which resulted in the death of an accomplice.
In a group chat, Enriquez expressed excitement about what he would purchase with his share of the money, claiming, “We’re all getting new cars, new chains, new toys.” An anonymous member questioned, “Are you all killers now or what’s going on?” Quintero succinctly replied, “Basically.”
The three cartel operatives now face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit murder for extortion purposes and attempted murder.
Fortunately, the intended target survived the attacks.
