Richard Steward Villeda, a 28-year-old resident of Costa Mesa, was tragically shot to death in the early hours of August 21, 2017, in Orange, California. The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. in the 800 block of East Culver Avenue. Officers responding to reports of gunfire found Villeda wounded in the street. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The neighborhood, typically quiet and residential, was shaken by the sudden violence, which was described as very rare for the area.
The investigation into Villeda's death revealed that he was not a resident of the neighborhood where he was found. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots, but there were no immediate signs of a struggle or argument preceding the shooting. The police initially had no suspects or clear motive for the crime, and they appealed to the public for any information that could assist in solving the case.
Further developments in the investigation pointed to a more sinister motive behind Villeda's murder. It was later uncovered that his death was a targeted hit ordered by Johnny Martinez, a high-ranking member of the Mexican Mafia. Martinez, who was incarcerated at the time, accused Villeda of stealing drugs and money under his control. Three men, identified as Mike Escobar, James Mendez, and Kevin Trejor, were found guilty of carrying out the murder on behalf of Martinez. These men, described as "foot soldiers" for the Mexican Mafia, lured Villeda from his home in Anaheim to the location in Orange where he was shot multiple times, including seven times in the back and once in the head.
The trial for the three men concluded with their conviction on charges of violent crime in aid of racketeering. They each face a maximum sentence of life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for March 2024. Martinez, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges related to Villeda's murder, is set to begin his trial in June 2024. The case highlighted the reach and influence of the Mexican Mafia within Southern California, even extending into orchestrated crimes from behind prison walls.
