Alleged San Francisco Gang Members Charged With Racketeering Conspiracy, Murder

Press Release

Defendants Allegedly Used Murder to Promote the Aims of a Sureño Street Gang

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal grand jury indicted Loel Amador and Eduardo Alvarez with racketeering (RICO) conspiracy and further alleged that a special sentencing factor applies against both defendants for their role in a 2023 murder. The indictment also charged Alvarez with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the indictment filed Oct. 16, 2024, and unsealed today, Amador, aka "Demon," 28, and Alvarez, aka "Clumsy" aka "Lalo," 36, both of San Francisco, allegedly conspired to conduct the affairs of a racketeering enterprise referred to as "the 19th Street/16th Street Sureños." The 19th Street/16th Street Sureños is described as a single, unified enterprise that resulted from the association of two gangs, one that claimed "territory" bounded by 19th Street to the south, 16th Street to the north, Folsom Street to the east, and Dolores Street to the west, and included Dolores Park and Franklin Square Park (also known as Bryant Park), and the other that claimed "territory" centered around 16th Street and Mission Street in San Francisco's Mission District. The gang allegedly engaged in, among other conduct, murder, narcotics distribution, assault, robbery, and other violent crimes in order to preserve and protect its power, territory, reputation, and profits. The indictment further alleges that, on or about Oct. 7, 2023, Amador and Alvarez murdered a victim in territory claimed by the gang. According to the indictment, on that same date, Alvarez, a convicted felon, possessed a Glock semiautomatic handgun.

This indictment marks the fourth case in the last 10 years in which members of the 19th Street/16th Street Sureños enterprise have been charged with federal racketeering offenses.

Amador was arrested in San Francisco from the custody of the San Francisco County Sheriff, and Alvarez was already in federal custody on a pending petition alleging a violation of supervised release conditions. Alvarez made an initial appearance in federal court in San Francisco earlier this week, and Amador made his initial appearance today. Amador and Alvarez are detained pending further proceedings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter H. Kang.

The announcement was made by First Assistant United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, defendants each face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution if appropriate, for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), racketeering conspiracy. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

The Organized Crime Strike Force section of the United States Attorney's Office is prosecuting this case. The prosecution is the result of a year-long investigation by HSI and the San Francisco Police Department.

Updated November 4, 2024