A federal grand jury has indicted four Solano County Brown Brotherhood Gang Members, according to an announcement from the Department of Justice and Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith Monday afternoon.
Leo Alphonzo Alonso-Medina, 32, of Vallejo; Jeremiah I’amafana Salanoa, 22, of Vallejo; Doroteo Suastegui, 47, of Vallejo; and Carlos Osvaldo Higuera-Aldana, 22, of Dixon each face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. All four were arrested on Feb. 27.
“According to court documents, the Brown Brotherhood gang is a subset of the Sureño gang and has been a frequent target of investigations of the Vallejo Police Department and the Solano County Violent Crime Task Force,” the release reads. “The primary criminal activities of this gang have included murder, robbery, extortion, drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, burglary, and stolen vehicles.
Higuera-Aldana believed to be related to recently arrested Vallejo Daycare operator Erica Higuera and her son, Humberto “Junior” Higuera, faces three counts of distribution of methamphetamine as well as possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Both Erica Higuera and Humberto Higuera plead not guilty to charges they face within Solano County for allegedly possessing illegal firearms and over 10,000 fentanyl pills in a daycare facility at Erica Higuera’s apartment.
In September, Higuera-Aldana sold a controlled purchase of two pounds of methamphetamine to federal agents, according to warrants used for his arrest. That led to surveillance at 806 Sheridan St. in Vallejo and 1350 W. First St., Dixon, residences associated with him. Cellphone communications between Higuera-Aldana and BBH member “Clowny” Alonzo-Medina were observed by federal law enforcement and used during the course of the investigation.
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Alonoso-Medina faces charges for distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine, unlawful dealing in firearms, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Salanoa faces three counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute of fentanyl. Suastegui faces charges for distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, and unlawful dealing in firearms.
“Any sentence imposed would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal sentencing guidelines, which take into account a number of variables,” the release reads. “The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The Federal Beaurau of Investigations, Beaurau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, City of Vallejo and Federal District Attorney for the Eastern District of California hosted a press conference the day of the arrests, where investigators announced they had been looking into these individuals for over a year. The arrests also came on the heels of a raid on a Super 8 motel on Solano Avenue on Thursday, Feb 20. Four Vallejo residents were arrested and 24 firearms were seized, according to ATF Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani, San Francisco Field Division.
Vallejo Mayor Andrea Sorce used the occasion to declare progress against violent crime in the city.
“I want to send a message to the criminal element that the days of thinking you can come to Vallejo and do your business with impunity are over,” she said.