One of three members of a Gardena street gang linked to the death of a 29-year-old man who was gunned down in front of his home in November 2020 was found guilty Monday of a federal charge likely to bring a sentence of life in prison.
Justin “Hitta” Arteaga, 23, of Gardena, was found guilty in downtown Los Angeles of one count of violent crime in aid of racketeering murder. He has been in federal custody since December 2020, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Before the shooting began, the murder victim, Evan Campbell, and his brother were seated in parked car near the driveway of their Gardena home when they were confronted by three men on foot — Arteaga, Antonio “Tank” Yanez, 26, and George “Lil Vampy” Hernandez — who were all armed with handguns, evidence showed.
Campbell’s brother told the men they were not affiliated with a gang and they were simply in front of their longtime home. As the men neared the parked car, Campbell stepped out of the vehicle while his brother texted their father, asking him to bring his gun outside because of the escalating situation, the Los Angeles federal court jury heard.
Hernandez swung at Campbell, who swung back, and all three assailants pulled out guns and began shooting. The father saw the text message and soon after heard 15 to 20 gunshots. The father came out to the car and saw Hernandez about 50 yards down the street.
Hernandez began shooting at the father, who returned fire and struck Hernandez. One of the other gunman also fired at the father after Hernandez fell to the ground, prosecutors said.
Police and paramedics responded to the scene, where they treated Campbell, but he died soon after as a result of the 10 gunshot wounds he suffered. Hernandez, who was found lying on the street with gunshot wounds to his head and chest, was brought to a hospital, where he died several days later.
Soon after the Nov. 13, 2020, shooting, Gardena police officers arrested Jesus “Rowdy” Hernandez, who participated in the shootout, and Yanez in the backyard of a nearby residence. Responding officers also recovered four 9mm handguns, three of which were “ghost guns” with no serial numbers, according to federal prosecutors.
Arteaga was arrested on Nov. 17, 2020, at Los Angeles International Airport as he was preparing to board a one-way flight to Guadalajara, Mexico. He was wearing the same hat he was seen wearing on security video taken the night of the shooting, according to court papers.
Jesus Hernandez pleaded guilty in May 2022 to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and is serving a 110-month prison sentence.
Yanez — a gang associate — pleaded guilty in February 2022 to one count of racketeering murder, one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He is expected to be sentenced in the coming months.
George Hernandez, who was Jesus Hernandez’s older brother is described in court papers as a longtime documented gang member.
The federal complaint stated that the murder of Campbell was committed to further the power of a street gang, which is described in the affidavit as a criminal enterprise that has documented membership in California, Nevada, Texas, Hawaii and Rosarito, Mexico. Gardena police believe the gang distributed narcotics, primarily methamphetamine, both locally and in Hawaii.
U.S. District Judge André Birotte Jr. scheduled a Sept. 20 sentencing hearing, at which time Arteaga will face a sentence of life in federal prison, prosecutors noted.
Under federal law, a prisoner serving a life sentence is not eligible for parole.