UPDATE: A significant sentencing just occurred in Oakland as Humberto Villegas, a 32-year-old Hayward gang member, received a 23-year prison term for three counts of attempted murder. This marks the conclusion of an eight-year prosecution linked to the notorious Operation Winter Storm, targeting the East Las Palmas gang, a subset of the Norteños.
Court records confirm that Villegas became the last of six co-defendants to be sentenced in this extensive case, which stemmed from a 2017 wiretap investigation. His co-defendants faced sentences ranging from seven years to 25 years to life, illustrating the serious nature of the charges involved.
In a courtroom proceeding earlier today, Villegas pleaded no contest, admitting to his role in plots that included an attempted shooting of a rival known as “80-Deuce,” who had previously shot him in the hand. Another plot targeted a rival gang member who rapped under the name Lil’ Slugg.
Villegas has been credited with nearly 10 years served during the lengthy court process. He was officially transferred to Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga on September 18, 2023.
The case has taken a dramatic turn for the co-defendants. Notably, Matthew “Yung Mickey” Munoz, who opted for trial, was convicted of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life. His appeal was denied last June, underscoring the challenging legal battles faced by those involved in this case.
The troubles don’t end there. Jeswal Prakash, one of the original defendants, was released from prison only to face new charges of attempted murder following a shooting incident on May 5, 2023.
As this case concludes, the ramifications of the gang’s activities continue to unfold. Authorities stress the importance of community engagement in combatting gang violence, making this outcome particularly significant for residents of South Hayward.
Stay tuned as developments continue in the aftermath of these sentences, with potential implications for gang-related activities in the area.
