3 members of Vineland Boyz gang are sentenced
Three members of the Vineland Boyz street gang were sentenced Monday for racketeering and drug trafficking, part of a long-term law enforcement campaign to avenge the killing of a rookie police officer four years ago.
U.S. District Judge John F. Walter sentenced Jesus Contreras and Mariano Meza to 25 years in prison; Manuel Yepiz was given a 20-year sentence.
The sentences brought to four the number of gang members to be sent to prison in the crackdown. Five others convicted in the case have yet to be sentenced.
The campaign against the gang came after the killing of Burbank Police Officer Matthew Pavelka, shot during a traffic stop in November 2003.
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