Three felons convicted of murder as part of "drug rip-off crew"

Three men who prosecutors said were part of a “drug rip-off crew” were convicted this month in the 2009 murder of a 23-year-old drug dealer, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

A jury on April 14 found Hector Aguilar Arciga, a 39-year-old Latino, guilty of first-degree murder, four counts of home invasion robbery, and first-degree burglary, according to a news release from the district attorney.

On April 22, 2009, Arciga, accompanied by Pedro Huerta Zuniga, 44, and Francisco Argenis Parra, 30, went to an apartment in the 16100 block of Eucalyptus Avenue in Bellflower to purchase drugs from Carlos Zarate, 23, according to prosecutors.

When Zarate realized that he was being cheated out of money, he was shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Zuniga and Parra, who are both Latino, were convicted April 11 of first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic firearm, four counts of home invasion robbery, and first-degree burglary, according to prosecutors.

Three other people who witnessed the shooting were robbed, and one person was also shot. During the two trials, the victims testified and identified the men as the assailants, prosecutors said.

Zuniga and Parra were linked to the crime scene through fingerprints, and a gun found in Parra’s car also connected him to the shooting.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Greg Cernok argued during the trials that the men were part of a “drug rip-off crew” who would build trust with a dealer by buying a small amount of drugs then request a large quantity and rob the drug dealers, employing semi-automatic handguns, zip ties and, in some cases, security badges.

The men would also use stacks of one dollar $1 bills with a larger bill on top to deceive dealers.

The  three men, who face the possibility of life in prison without parole, will be sentenced June 6.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz