A motorcycle gang leader who led others to steal Jeep Wranglers in a high-tech way in Chula Vista and elsewhere has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison.
Jimmy Josue Martinez, 33, who was also known as “Motas,” was transferred to a federal prison in Victorville in July after being sentenced in U.S. District Court in San Diego.
Judge John Houston ordered him to pay $246,396 in restitution to four insurance companies which was listed as victims of approximately 150 stolen Jeep Wranglers in San Diego County. The cars were taken to Mexico to be sold or stripped for parts.
Martinez was a member of the Hooligan motorcycle gang which was based in Tijuana and he led a theft crew that would employ scouts to target a specific Jeep. His crew would get the vehicle identification number from the dashboard or elsewhere and make a duplicate transponder key, according to court records.
The theft crew would surreptitiously obtain computer codes from the Chrysler’s database and they would later return to the Jeep and take it. The thieves would disable the car alarms and steal the car with a duplicate key, often in the middle of the night.
Martinez pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to commit transportation of stolen vehicles in foreign commerce. At the time of his guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer said “the joy ride is over for Mr. Martinez.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Galvin urged the 37-month term, while Martinez’s attorney, Julie Blair, recommended 24 months. He could have received a maximum five year term in prison.
As an example of the value of the cars taken, a 2013 Jeep Wrangler that was stolen on Jan. 20, 2014 in Chula Vista was valued at $35,685, as listed in an excerpt from the indictment.
There were nine other Hooligan gang members charged with Martinez, and most have been sentenced.
The restitution order for Martinez specifies he pay $91,157 to Geico Insurance, $71,347 to USAA, $50,630 to Progressive, and $33,262 to Allstate.
Approximately 50% of money placed on Martinez’s books in prison will be diverted to the insurance companies, according to his sentencing documents. He will also be subject to paying the insurance companies back even after he is released from prison. He will be banned from associating with other Hooligan members even after his release.
Court records listed Mario “Cifre” Echeverria-Ibarra, Adan Esteban Sanchez Aguirre, and Narcisco Zamora Banuelos as fugitives after warrants for their arrests were issued on May 24, 2017.
