Varrio Intruders 13

Victoria Izaguirre · October 19, 2018

The South Side Chamberlain Hill Varrio Intruders 13 (INTS) is a small gang located in south Chamberlain Hill, San Andreas. The INTS as a gang has been around since the early-to-mid 1970’s. The name Intruders pays homage to the American soul music group “The Intruders” which was popular in the 60’s and 70’s. Their territory is small, mostly keeping to east Forum Drive and south Strawberry Avenue. However at points in time they have claimed parts of west Grove Street and further north along Strawberry Avenue. Rivals of the INTS include the Davis Latin Kings, Davis Grove Street Tyrants, Davis Covenant Block Piru, and Rancho Varrio Crazy Vatos. Occasional feuds with other Chamberlain Hill gangs have flared up from time to time as well. Its biggest rivalries have mostly been with other Sureno gangs outside of prison.

People v. Nieto

FACTS

In 2006, on the night of September 3, Victor Verduzco and his cousins, Reina Bold and Oscar Aguirre, were hanging out on the corner of Covenant Avenue and Brouge Avenue in Davis. Aguirre, age 12, was playing with his scooter and Verduzco and Bold were sitting on the curb smoking marijuana. Defendant approached the three cousins, walking quickly with his head down and his hands in his pocket. Defendant wore a black Los Santos Corkers hoodie and a grey and white bandana covering his face, from his chin to the tip of his nose.

Verduzco offered defendant “a hit” of the marijuana, using a “joking” type gesture. Defendant angrily demanded to know where Verduzco was from. While still seated, Verduzco replied, “Davis. Latin. Kings.” Defendant responded, “fuck Lanterns”, fired two shots at Verduzco, and ran away to a dark colored sedan. The cousins had all begun to stand up before the shooting, but Verduzco was still sitting when he was shot.

When the Sheriff’s Deputy Angel Santos arrived at the scene, Verduzco was unconscious and not breathing. The autopsy found Verduzco had suffered two gunshot wounds, with one of the bullets severing his spinal cord. The bullet was lodged in the mid-chest and spinal canal. There were two entrance wounds, consistent with Verduzco being shot while seated.

At the crime scene, police found two 9mm caliber shell casings. A navy blue bandana with white patterns on it was found half a block away. DNA analysis of the bandana established a match with the defendant.

About a week or two after the shooting, Bold saw gang graffiti-”INTS”-written at the corner where Verduzco was shot. Bold testified that before the shooting, she obtained some marijuana from a person called “Mando” or “Smokey”.

Sheriff’s deputies, Miles Warren and Thomas Long, interviewed defendant on April 12, 2007, during an unrelated incarceration. Sergeant Warren told defendant that he was investigating Verduzco homicide and defendant denied knowing Verduzco. Defendant admitted he was once part of the Chamberlain Hill Intruders gang. He denied he still “claimed” the gang. Defendant said his nickname was “Horse” not “Smokey”. Defendant did not know where he was the night of Verduzco’s homicide.

After leaving the interview room, defendant talked to a fellow inmate who was a confidential informant (C.I.) wearing a hidden microphone and recording device. In their conversation, the C.I. repeatedly called defendant “Smokey”. Defendant told the C.I. he had told Warren his nickname was not Smokey but Horse. Defendant said the interview was about the death of “Victor Verduzco”, the “lop from Latin Kings”. Defendant told the C.I. somebody must have snitched on him and “Mando”. During the incident, Mando was driving a car. Defendant, wearing a bandana and a hoodie, was alone when he confronted Verduzco about 10:00 p.m. on the street. Defendant wanted someone to tell his girlfriend to get rid of the car and to tell “Mando not to be running his mouth out there about that shit we did”. When the C.I. asked about the gun, defendant replied, “Yeah, it’s been gone. I gave it to the homies and I think they got busted with it”.

Mando is Armando Padilla, an Intruders gang member.

On January 19, 2008, Warren contacted defendant under an arrest warrant and told him there was DNA evidence connecting him to a homicide. Defendant made a phone call, apparently to his father, and said, “it’s a wrap”. Defendant was arrested for Verduzco’s murder.

Davis police officer, Richard Stipps, testified as a gang expert. He identified Intruders as a Hispanic criminal street gang with less than 50 members. A number of those 50 members incarcerated. The Intruders gang claimed the Forum Drive and Strawberry Avenue area in Chamberlain Hill as their territory. Stipps explained that gang graffiti appearing at a homicide site expresses gang support and intimidation. Stipps described defendant as an active Chamberlain Hill Varrio Intruders gang member.

Stipps testified the Chamberlain Hill Varrio Intruders gang and the Davis Latin Kings gang, to which the victim belonged, are “bitter rivals”. In 2007, the Intruders would call the Latin Kings “lanterns” to show disrespect. Law enforcement records from 2007 showed that the Intruders used weapons to assault the Latin Kings.

By asking “where are you from?”, a gang member intends to establish his territorial authority. If a Intruders gang member killed a rival, the killer would gain “major respect” from the other Intruders gang members. The Intruders gang members would view the killer as showing allegiance by respecting their area and protecting their territory. Stipps’ opinion was defendant killed Verduzco for the benefit of, in association with, or in furtherance of the Intruders gang.

Defendant did not testify or present an affirmative defense. Defense counsel argued to the jury there was no evidence defendant was wearing the bandana at the time of the shooting and there was no evidence of premeditation. Instead, defended may have overreacted to Verduzco and his cousins. Defense counsel asked the jury to return a verdict of second degree murder and to find the gang allegation not true.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

To anyone considering joining, no matter what your racial makeup, you must at the very least be somewhat familiar with Chicano culture and South Central (South Los Angeles) Sureno gang culture. Particularly Sureno gang culture in predominantly Black neighborhoods.

Why?

Because the Intruders faction wants to portray a ghetto gang, similar to Lennox 13, 18th Street 106st Tiny Wynos, Watts Varrio Grape, and other predominantly Mexican-American gangs that have grown up in Black neighborhoods. So naturally, are influenced by the Black gangs they have grown up around.

This will always be a predominantly Mexican-American faction, as it is a gang which pays homage to the Mexican Mafia. However we will accept other races including Black characters. If you are wanting to join as anything other than a Mexican, we encourage you to PM Victoria Izaguirre. She will help you with ensuring that your character fits the environment it has “grown up” in.