Mexican Mafia honcho guilty of racketeering

SAN DIEGO  — A San Diego man who federal prosecutors said was a top member of the Mexican Mafia prison gang and who was the overlord for the gang’s operations in parts of San Diego has pleaded guilty to racketeering charges.

Salvadore Colabella, 53, faces a life prison sentence following the plea, which he made on Friday. A member of a Logan Heights street gang, Colabella was identified by prosecutors as a Mexican Mafia “member,” the highest ranking spot in the hierarchy of the gang.

He was one of the prime defendants named in a series of indictments announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in January that targeted 119 street gang members in San Diego.

The indictments capped three separate investigations by local, federal and state law enforcement agencies that focused on street gangs and the Mexican Mafia in the county.

As a “member” of the gang, Colabella had the power to order assaults and killings, and to collect “taxes” from street gangs that operate and sell drugs in areas under the control of the Mexican Mafia. Prosecutors said the payments were essentially extortion made under the threat of violence and retaliation from the prison gang.

He admitted extorting payment from gangs and collecting more than $10,000 in cash or property, as well as drug dealing, in his guilty plea, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

He was the lead target in “Operation Carnalismo,” a probe that focused on street gang activities in central San Diego and South County.

A total of 36 people were indicted in that investigation on racketeering, drug dealing,and money laundering charges. In addition to Colabella, 14 others have pleaded guilty.

Colabella is set to be sentenced on Oct. 12.