Mendota Man Faces Life in Prison After Federal Jury Finds Him Guilty of Violent Attacks in Aid of MS-13

After an 11-day trial, a federal jury today convicted Oscar Armando Orellana Guevara, 28, of Mendota, of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise and attempted murder for his ongoing involvement in MS-13, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. For nearly a decade, members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS‑13) gang terrorized Mendota through violence, extortion, drug trafficking, and enforcement of gang rules. A federal grand jury ultimately charged multiple members, including Orellana, with conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise aimed at protecting MS‑13 territory, enhancing its reputation, disciplining members, and raising money for the gang. Attempted Murder of JBH According to court documents and testimony during the trial, on Aug. 28, 2020, Orellana and other MS-13 members were at a river near Mendota, when they heard music coming from another spot. They discovered the individual playing the music was JBH, whom they targeted because he because he was related to a government informant who was cooperating with law enforcement against MS-13. Unable to retaliate against the cooperator, who was in prison, the group attacked JBH instead. Upon arriving at the scene, Orellana yelled out “I’m from the Mara and today is your last day to live” and then chased JBH across the river into an orchard. There, he forced the victim to his knees before stabbing him 10 times. JBH was treated at a hospital for multiple stab wounds, including chest wounds that nearly punctured a lung and eviscerating wounds that penetrated his abdominal cavity and damaged his intestines. Racketeering Conspiracy In addition to the attempted murder of JBH, court documents and trial testimony showed that Orellana participated in the MS-13 enterprise for years, including by selling drugs, extorting people, patrolling for rival gang members, and participating in plans to murder others. On Aug. 12, 2018, Orellana participated in the stabbing of a rival Bulldog gang member. While riding in an SUV, Guevara and others spotted IR near a convenience store, confronted him, chased him, and stabbed him before fleeing. Another defendant in the case, Martin Leiva-Leiva, remains set for trial on racketeering conspiracy and six counts of capital murder on June 7, 2027.