Tag Archive for: Sentencing

Murder Defendant in 24-Year-Old Cold Case Sentenced for Triple Homicide

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that a 47-year-old man who shot and killed three people, including a 22-month-old baby, on Labor Day in 2000, has been sentenced to three terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 75 years to life.

In September 2000, Sergio Contreras opened fire into an apartment, after one of the residents failed to pay for a small amount of illegal drugs. Contreras shot 27-year-old Michael Plummer more than a dozen times. He also shot 18-year-old Adah Pearson in the heart as she lay sleeping on the couch. Another shot went through the wall and hit 22-month-old Julio Rangel, Jr. in the head as he lay asleep on a bed in the next room. All three victims died from their wounds. Contreras fled and case went cold for several years.

Contreras was initially a suspect in the crime, but it wasn’t until 2007, after additional witnesses came forward, that murder charges were filed. On March 22, 2023, Contreras was successfully extradited from Mexico where he had been serving time for an unrelated robbery and murder.

“When a murder is unsolved for decades, it takes an enormous toll on the victim’s loved ones, but now the families of Michael Plummer, Adah Pearson and Julio Rangel Jr. have a measure of justice after many years of mourning their loss,” DA Stephan said. “I am grateful to our Cold Case Unit and detectives in the San Diego Police Department who worked tirelessly on this case until it was solved, and the killer was brought to justice.”

Deputy District Attorney Chris Lindberg prosecuted this case.

Established in 2003, the DA’s Cold Case Homicide Unit works with law enforcement to solve and prosecute unsolved murders. The victims come from all walks of life and from all areas of the county, including children and the elderly. The District Attorney’s Office prioritizes these cases through the Cold Case Unit, which has dedicated and experienced investigators and prosecutors who use the latest forensic technology to deliver justice to victims.

The oldest case solved and prosecuted by the unit is the 1969 rape and murder of Mary Scott which resulted in a conviction following a trial in 2022. The Cold Case Unit also manages the Cold Homicide and Research Genealogy Effort (CHARGE.) Funded by a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, CHARGE uses the power of investigative genetic genealogy to solve more cold case homicides. The San Diego District Attorney’s Office was one of only 10 prosecutor’s offices nationwide to receive this grant.

Violent Cartel Associates Sentenced to Life in Prison for Kidnapping for Ransom

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that three defendants, who were previously indicted by a grand jury, were sentenced to lengthy prison sentences for their violent acts on behalf of a Mexican drug cartel. Defendants Victor Medrano, 44, and Eliceo Flores, 36 were sentenced to life in state prison without parole and defendant Emily Gonzalez, 33, was sentenced to 24 years, eight months in custody. A fourth indicted defendant, 32-year-old Julie Soto, is scheduled for trial in December.

All four defendants were indicted by a grand jury for their roles in the kidnappings of two women, who allegedly stole from the Sinaloa Cartel. The two men were also indicted for brutally assaulting the two women. Flores, Medrano, and Soto were further indicted for a variety of conspiracies to sell large amounts of fentanyl, meth, heroin, and ghost guns on behalf of the cartel. Additionally, Flores and Medrano were indicted for conspiracies to commit a separate kidnapping, robbery, possession of numerous stolen vehicles, and for passing over $10,000 in fraudulent checks.

“Drug cartels are a serious and violent threat to our community and their criminal networks should not and will not be allowed to operate in our county,” DA Stephan said. “Let this case be an example of the type of justice that will be brought forth by our dedicated gang prosecutors who work with our law enforcement partners and who risk their lives to deliver justice on behalf of victims to protect the community.”

Medrano and Flores each pleaded guilty on June 5 to two counts of kidnapping for ransom causing bodily harm. Gonzalez pleaded guilty to two counts of kidnapping and carjacking. Both Flores and Gonzalez also admitted to having a serious felony strike prior.

The grand jury indictment alleges that Soto, Medrano, and Flores were part of a large-scale drug and gun importation scheme, with Medrano referring to Soto as “the big boss” and “the one that takes care of most SD.” The indictment references messages from the group about pounds of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl powder for sale. Additional messages discuss the illicit sale of AR-15 assault rifles and ghost handguns. The indictment also describes efforts by Medrano and Flores to kidnap, attempt to kidnap, or “take out” several different victims.

The grand jury alleged that on May 2, 2022, Soto was actively looking for one of two women, who Soto suspected had stolen a load of drugs. Soto allegedly contacted Medrano about retrieving the stolen items. Medrano, Flores, and Gonzalez drove to the victims’ El Cajon residence, where the two men forcibly entered and ordered the victims to leave at gunpoint. The trio took the victims to a house in Lemon Grove and held them for ransom before transporting the women to Medrano’s Chula Vista home.

Once inside Medrano’s home, the indictment alleges Medrano, Flores, and Gonzalez drugged the victims, threatened the victims with torture, and then brutally assaulted the women.

In a statement to the court, one of the victims described the women as “survivors of an unimaginable ordeal.” She described the anxiety and PTSD she has endured since this “humiliating” incident and remarked at how “truly scary [it is] to know that people with these characteristics and mindsets live among us.” Ultimately, she addressed the male defendants, saying that even though they only pleaded guilty to the aggravated kidnapping charges, she “rest[s] just fine because God knows what you did and there’s no way around that one. Now the question of the day: was it worth it? Was the money that was promised you worth the rest of your life? I don’t believe in reincarnation, but if that does happen, hopefully you don’t decide to be a puppet in that life as you were in this one.”

Deputy District Attorney Drew Garrison prosecuted this case.

Photo of gavel and scales of justice.

Woman Convicted in Elder Theft Case is Sentenced

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that a woman who illegally took possession of an 89-year-old victim’s house and refused to vacate it has been sentenced to two years formal probation and 150 hours of community service. The sentence was handed down this afternoon in San Diego Superior Court downtown.The defendant, Asfar “Benny” Shamlou was also ordered to stay away from the property and victims in this case. The victim’s family is currently in the process of regaining possession of the home.

“This defendant took advantage of an elderly woman in poor health and was brought to justice by our DA Real Estate Fraud team,” said DA Stephan. “Elder abuse comes in many forms. Our office pursues justice on behalf of seniors and works to hold defendants like this accountable for preying on some of the most vulnerable in our community.”

In this case, the victim, who suffers from dementia, had a stroke in 2018 and moved into a nursing care facility. Shamlou, 67, whose website indicates she has a background in finance and real estate investments, identified the Carmel Mountain Ranch home as being vacant and delinquent on property taxes. She illegally moved into the home in early 2021. When confronted by the victim’s family, she told them she had paid the back taxes and that she now owned the home. Shamlou threw away all of the owner’s possessions and even remodeled the home.

The defendant was charged with five felony counts including theft from an elder, burglary, grand theft of personal property, and vandalism. She was convicted of all criminal counts by a jury in December of 2023.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney John Dunn who is the lead prosecutor in the DA’s Real Estate Fraud Unit. Suspected fraud or other real estate related crime can be reported to the District Attorney here.

DA Weekly News Update with DA Summer Stephan 01-18-24

In this week’s DA news, District Attorney Summer Stephan talks about the local Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events, a sensitive criminal case that was sentenced and the DA’s continued efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal Fentanyl.

Photo of a judge's gavel and handcuffs on top of books.

Doctor who Sexually Assaulted Patients Sentenced to Prison

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced that defendant Leng Ky, 43, a doctor who sexually assaulted four patients while they were under anesthesia, was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Ky pleaded guilty to three counts of sexually assaulting an unconscious victim and one count of sexually battery by restraint on January 26, the day his trial was set to begin.

“This Defendant used his position of trust as a doctor to sedate and sexually assault his victims, betraying his medical oath and traumatizing his patients,” DA Stephan said. “Thanks to the thorough investigation by law enforcement and the work of our prosecution team, this predator disguised in a white coat was brought to justice and will serve a lengthy prison sentence.”

The defendant in this case, an anesthesiologist with ties to numerous local medical care facilities was also operating a pain management clinic in Escondido in 2020. The four victims, women ranging from 19 to 32 years old, sought treatment from the defendant from 2015 through 2020 for a variety of serious medical conditions. In each case, the defendant would suggest treatments that required the victims to be placed under heavy anesthesia. He would then administer drugs such as Ketamine and Propofol, making the victims unconscious.

The victims would sometimes wake up during the treatments to find the defendant sexually assaulting them. The defendant would continue to administer drugs putting them under again. When the victims would raise concerns about their memories, the defendant assured them it was just a result of hallucinations from the drugs. One victim remembers the defendant whispering in her ear “I know you like this” while sexually assaulting her. Due to the effects of the drugs, the victims were unable to move or even talk when they would wake up and find the defendant violating them. The victims’ mothers and husbands would be sitting in the waiting room while the defendant sexually assaulted their loved ones in his treatment room.

The defendant was arrested by the Escondido Police Department and United States Marshals in March 2020, bringing an end to his medical practice and his ability to victimize others.

Deputy District Attorney Ben Barlow prosecuted this case.

Killer Sentenced to Life in Prison in Gaslamp Shooting Case

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that defendant Travis Sarreshteh, 34, who was convicted by a jury on September 14 of premeditated murder, premeditated attempted murder and assault with a firearm, has been sentenced to 175 years in prison plus four life terms. Sarreshteh shot and killed a parking valet on a busy downtown street in April 2021 before walking several blocks and shooting three tourists and a local San Diego man.

Sarreshteh was stopped by two good Samaritans near Fifth Avenue and Island Avenue.

“This defendant had no regard for life when he ruthlessly killed an innocent young man who was simply performing his work, before going on the hunt for additional victims,” DA Stephan said. “I’m grateful for the heroic actions of bystanders, which likely averted even more loss of life, and also for the swift action and thorough investigation by San Diego Police Department, and the dedicated work of the DA prosecution team, all resulting in a just jury verdict and sentence in this case.”

Sarreshteh had been going through a breakup with his girlfriend, who wanted out of the relationship due to domestic violence incidents. After making a series of Instagram posts about ‘today being the last day for people to make amends’ with him, Sarreshteh went to his girlfriend’s home with a ghost gun— an untraceable firearm. He was wearing all black and his face was covered with a mask.

After the couple argued, Sarreshteh went to the nearby Pendry Hotel, where he shot and killed valet Justice Boldin as he helped customers. When Boldin fell to the ground, Sarreshteh shot him several more times. Sarreshteh then walked up Fifth Avenue and demanded a group of tourists salute him, reaching for his firearm again. At Fifth and Island Avenues, Sarreshteh walked through a group of four young tourists and accused them of laughing at him. The men did not respond and continued to walk away, when Sarreshteh fired into the group of men at their backs. He struck and injured three of the men, plus a local San Diego man who was half a block away on his way to see his son perform music at a local music venue.

The two Good Samaritans followed Sarreshteh and tackled him to the ground. Police arrived on scene and thanks to the Good Samaritans, were able to detain Sarreshteh and seize his firearm.

Deputy District Attorney Jessica Paugh prosecuted this case.

Double Homicide Defendant Sentenced for 1987 Cold Case

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that a 62-year-old man who killed two people at a birthday party in Ramona then fled to Mexico for 32 years, has been sentenced to 34 years-to-life in prison by San Diego Superior Court Judge Joan Weber for the 1987 slayings of German Aviles, 26, and Ventura Aviles, 21.

On May 27, a jury found Jose Solorio guilty of two counts of second-degree murder after deliberating for two days.

“Today, the families of German and Ventura Aviles received a measure of justice after decades of mourning their loss,” DA Stephan said. “The daughter of German Aviles had to grow up without her loving father over this senseless and violent act.”

During a birthday party for the 4-year-old daughter of German Aviles, Solorio got into an argument with the victims and other men over getting more beer for the party. The defendant became offended over an insult directed at him. He left the party and returned with a loaded handgun.

While standing in the doorway of the apartment, Solorio fatally shot German and Ventura Aviles, then shot and wounded another man inside the apartment. He then shot a fourth man outside the apartment who was returning to the home with beer.

Solorio immediately fled to Mexico, where he hid from law enforcement for 32 years. He was taken into custody in the City of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico in April 2019 and extradited from Mexico City in December 2019.