Erick Romero Quintana, a prominent street racing influencer in Southern California, has been charged by Los Angeles County prosecutors with 16 counts of conspiracy related to street takeovers.
The 22-year-old pleaded not guilty during a court appearance on Thursday in downtown Los Angeles. He faces a potential prison sentence of at least ten years following allegations that he organized multiple street racing events through his Instagram account, @privatemeetz.
From December 2022 to November 2023, Quintana’s account reportedly promoted the locations of 16 illegal takeover events in South Los Angeles, amassing over 60,000 followers. One of these events tragically resulted in the death of a 24-year-old woman when a car lost control and plowed into the crowd.
Street racing has long been a dangerous facet of California’s car culture, with investigations revealing that at least 179 fatalities occurred due to street racing-related incidents between 2000 and 2017.
While traditional street racing is often characterized by one-on-one drag races, takeover events take on a more chaotic form. During these gatherings, drivers and spectators congregate at intersections to block traffic, as they perform stunts in cramped spaces, often with little regard for safety.
Drivers typically engage in “burnouts” or “doughnuts,” competing to see who can spin their vehicle the most times or skid to a near halt closest to a fixed object. The environment at these events is both reckless and potentially deadly.
Prosecutors’ charges against Quintana reflect a strategic new approach to target individuals involved with street racing who do not drive, as emphasized by Sgt. Arnold Castellanos of the LAPD’s Street Racing Task Force.
“This prosecution is a necessary step,” Castellanos stated in an email. “Street takeovers are much more than just cars doing donuts. Over time, ‘car clubs’ have formed, competing against each other, and this has escalated tensions, making their activities resemble gang behavior.”
Quintana is scheduled to return to court in July. Each conspiracy count against him carries a minimum sentence of 16 months in prison, contributing to the significant potential prison time he faces.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman highlighted that this is just the beginning of a larger initiative to combat street racing culture, as these takeovers not only attract chaotic crowds but often lead to secondary crimes in the neighborhoods where they occur.
He referenced a robbery at a bakery in Compton, where a mob allegedly took advantage of the chaos following a takeover, indicating that the ramifications of such events extend beyond reckless driving.
Hochman asserted, “People like Quintana are bringing together street racers and spectators; they are equally responsible for the crimes being committed alongside other participants in this conspiracy.”
Quintana’s defense attorney, Bart Kaspero, expressed confusion over the law enforcement’s handling of the case. Although he acknowledged that Quintana was responsible for the account that posted takeover locations, he emphasized his client did not attend or participate in the driving at these events.
Kaspero described the prosecution’s case as excessive, likening it to charging someone who distributes flyers for a party where a crime later occurs.
He portrayed Quintana as a simple “car enthusiast” and rejected the notion that street takeovers are inherently criminal or that his client should have predicted the danger of the events he promoted.
“Most people present are there for the spectacle,” Kaspero argued.
However, Hochman countered this perspective, indicating that it is implausible for Quintana to claim ignorance about potential dangers when he allegedly organized 15 other takeovers following the deadly incident on Christmas Day in Hyde Park.
Sgt. Castellanos further elaborated on the tactics used by Quintana, explaining that his social media posts would often contain symbols or abbreviations that signaled specific intersections, allowing followers to respond rapidly and overwhelm those locations like a flash mob.
These influencers, Castellanos argued, exploit the violence and chaos of takeovers to enhance their online presence, aiming to monetize their large followings.
In a society that is increasingly digital, the concept of law enforcement is now grappling with the challenges of policing activities that take place outside conventional norms, which also involve individuals who may not physically partake in the reckless behavior but are nonetheless influential in the street racing culture.
Ultimately, Quintana’s case could set a precedent for how authorities handle those who promote illegal street racing events and the resulting need for public safety.
As Quintana faces the potential consequences of his actions, the backlash against street racing culture in Southern California is likely to intensify.
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-05/los-angeles-street-racing-influencer-charges
