Two teenage gang members were sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for attempting to assassinate a Sinaloa Cartel target and resulting in the death of a fellow gang member.
Andrew Nunez and Johncarlo Quintero, both of Wilmington, California, pled guilty to murder and attempted murder charges in December 2025, confessing they worked as hired hitmen for the Sinaloa Cartel, according to a news statement from the United States Attorney’s office. The crimes took place on March 26 and 27, 2024, when both were 15 years old.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson, is intended to send a message to groups such as the Sinaloa Cartel and Mexican Mafia that youth involvement in significant crimes would not be tolerated. “No to the Sinaloa Cartel’s recruitment of juveniles. “No to the Mexican Mafia directing gangland hits in San Diego,” said US Attorney Adam Gordon.
The FBI San Diego Field Office, in partnership with other law enforcement agencies, remains committed to eliminating violent gangs and cartels, as stated by Acting Special Agent in Charge TJ Holland. “Individuals who commit acts of violence, regardless of age, will be held fully accountable under the law,” Holland informed the crowd.
Nunez and Quintero made two attempts to kill the cartel’s target, first at a Chili’s restaurant in Chula Vista and then at the victim’s residence. During the second attempt, they were joined by 28-year-old Ricardo Sanchez, who was fatally shot by the intended victim’s friend in self-defense, according to the plea bargains.
The case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force’s mission to eliminate criminal cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The FBI, the Chula Vista Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives all played roles in the investigation. Ashley Goff, Peter Horn, and Joshua Mellor, Assistant United States Attorneys, are leading the prosecution.
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