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Six Charged in Federal Gang-Related RICO Case in San Diego

Official court records state six individuals face federal racketeering, drug, firearm, or witness tampering charges in a developing case.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 18, 2026, 10:53 a.m. ET
On August 17, 2026, official court records from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California announced federal racketeering charges against alleged members and associates of the El Cajon Locos street gang. The case remains open and developing, and the matter is undecided as charges are allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. All six defendants are currently in custody. According to official records, five defendants were indicted in U.S. District Court under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act in connection with drug and firearms trafficking and violent crimes allegedly committed between April and November 2025. The official record names four of the defendants as 49-year-old Jose Morales, 40-year-old Luis Baltierrez, 43-year-old Oscar Mendoza Alatorre Sr., and 34-year-old Nicole Christine Gracia, all of San Diego. Two additional defendants remain sealed in the record. Official records state that the gang operated primarily out of the Terraza Hills Apartments in El Cajon. Defendant Nicole Cristina Gracia was with witness tampering and harassing a witness after allegedly threatening and persuading a robbery victim to claim a recorded robbery was staged for a music video. The prosecution follows an investigation by state and federal agencies including the El Cajon Police Department, FBI, ATF, Homeland Security Investigations, and San Diego County Sheriff's Office.

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  1. Version 118 Aug 2026, 14:53current

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