DA: One of Monterey County’s highest ranking gang members guilty

One of Monterey County’s highest ranking gang members has been found guilty of selling drugs, and being a felon in possession of a gun all for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

According to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, 36-year-old Duane Joseph Jefferson aka Joe Jeff was wanted for cutting his GPS ankle monitor when he was spotted by Salinas PD’s Violence Suppression Unit back in September of 2016.

Jefferson and another gang member ran from police and ditched a couple of loaded guns in the process. VSU officers were able to catch the two gang members and did a search of their car. Officers found two pounds of pure, un-cut methamphetamine and more than 350 grams of uncut heroin. About $100,000 worth of narcotics was seized.

“Jefferson has a lengthy gang related criminal history dating back to the 1990’s. By 2016, he was known to be a member of the Nuestra Familia, the leadership of the Norteno Criminal Street Gang. At the time of this crime he was the Regimental Commander of Monterey County, meaning he oversaw the Norteno Criminal Street Gang’s Monterey County regiment,” said the Monterey County DA’s Office.

Jefferson will be sentenced on March 28, 2018.