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Date: 08-25-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. Juan Jose Jimenez-Montufar, a/k/a "Chele Trece"
Case Number: 2:17-cr-00164-EAS-3
Judge: Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (Franklin County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Brian J. Martinez and Jessica H. Kim
Defendant's Attorney: Mark C. Collins and Kaitlyn C. Stephens
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Description:
Columbus, OH - MS-13 Defendant Admits to Being Shooter in 2006 Murder
A defendant in the MS-13 racketeering case has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court and accepted responsibility for his involvement in multiple homicides, including the murder of a former confidential informant.
Juan Jose Jimenez-Montufar (also known as Chele Trece), 35, of Columbus, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering.
Jimenez-Montufar is one of 23 individuals charged in a second superseding indictment in February 2018 who are alleged to be members and associates of MS-13 in Columbus.
The defendants are charged in a racketeering conspiracy, which includes five murders as well as attempted murder, extortion, money laundering, drug trafficking, assault, obstruction of justice, witness intimidation, weapons offenses and immigration-related violations.
The second superseding indictment alleges that the defendants committed a host of overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy, including: 1) the December 2006 murder of Jose Mendez, a confidential informant, in Perry County; 2) the November 2008 murder of Ramon Ramos on Lockbourne Road in Columbus; 3) the mid-2015 murder of Carlos Serrano-Ramos, a suspected rival gang member, near Innis Road in Columbus; 4) the November 2015 murder of Wilson Villeda near Innis Road in Columbus; and 5) the December 2016 murder of Salvador Martinez-Diaz, a suspected rival gang member, on Melroy Avenue in Columbus.
As part of his plea, Jimenez-Montufar admitted to being the shooter who killed Jose Mendez in 2006. At that time, Mendez was a confidential informant working with law enforcement agencies in the Columbus area. In December 2006, Jimenez-Montufar and other MS-13 members drove Mendez to a remote location east of Columbus to murder him. Jimenez-Montufar shot Mendez in the head and left his body in Perry County.
Jimenez-Montufar’s plea also details that the defendant participated in other homicides, assaulted victims, set fire to an extortion victim’s car, and took part in drug trafficking, extortion and money laundering.
Jimenez-Montufar faces up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, ICE, Columbus Division of Police and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the assistance of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
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RACKETEERING ACTIVITY, MURDER/KIDNAPPING
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Outcome: 08/21/2019 877 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Chief Judge Edmund A. Sargus:Change of Plea Hearing as to Juan Jose Jimenez-Montufar held on 8/21/2019, Defendant changed plea to guilty to counts 1-3 and forfeiture counts of the Second Superseding Indictment. PSI Ordered. (Court Reporter: Darla Coulter) (cmw) (Entered: 08/21/2019)
08/21/2019 878 NOTICE of presentence referral sent to probation as to Juan Jose Jimenez-Montufar (cmw) (Entered: 08/21/2019)
08/21/2019 879 Presentence Report Disclosure Notification received as to Juan Jose Jimenez-Montufar. Report to be completed by Daniel Fugate. Presentence Investigation Report due by 11/6/2019. (cmw) (Entered: 08/21/2019)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
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