Los Angeles County prosecutors have charged 19 individuals in connection with a conspiracy to murder rapper Nelson Abrego, known professionally as Swifty Blue.
The complaint, filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleges that Manuel “Snuffy” Quintero, a member of the Mexican Mafia, ordered the assassination of Abrego in 2022.
Details of the conspiracy unfolded through TikTok messages and recorded jail calls, implicating various individuals including prisoners from Kern County and gang members in the L.A. area.
Quintero, 49, was arrested on Wednesday and has yet to enter a plea. Court records do not indicate whether he has legal representation.
A long-time member of the Paramount Varrio gang, Quintero has a criminal history that includes prison time for assault, manufacturing methamphetamine, and false imprisonment.
The conspiracy allegedly took shape on New Year’s Eve 2022 when Giuseppe “Clever” Leyva, identified as an associate of Quintero, informed an informant that gang members had been instructed to attack Abrego “on sight.” Leyva, 34, is currently in custody facing unrelated federal charges for drug and gun trafficking in Imperial County.
After an informant’s inquiry about whether Quintero was upset with Abrego, Leyva reportedly expressed disdain toward the rapper, indicating a heated atmosphere surrounding Abrego. It remains unclear what specifically triggered Quintero’s anger.
In an interview with The Times in 2024, Abrego refrained from discussing any tensions with the Mexican Mafia, suggesting that these conflicts existed within a complicated web of ‘jailhouse politics.’
Abrego has previously stated that his music resonates broadly because of its appeal to the desire for toughness and gangsta identity, which transcends various societal roles.
Eight months following the informant’s communication with Leyva, the complaint reveals that Leyva warned another individual via TikTok to steer clear of the rapper, implying that Abrego’s career was effectively over and that he was facing dire consequences.
In November 2023, Abrego was incarcerated on a gun possession charge, prompting Onesimo “Vamps” Gonzalez—another gang member detained just two cells away from Abrego—to inquire about his well-being through a phone call to his mother.
This conversation resulted in both Gonzalez and his mother being charged with conspiracy. Gonzalez was already in custody when his 66-year-old mother, Dominga Gonzalez, was arrested at her home in Bellflower.
Just days after the mother-son interaction, Jonathan “Dreamer” Quevedo, another inmate, was implicated in the conspiracy for his call to a Kern County prisoner utilizing a contraband phone.
During the call, Quevedo referenced Abrego and connected a violent message to the murder of another rapper, Jaime Brugada Valdez, who had been fatally attacked in prison.
Prosecutors believed this conversation suggested a plan to harm Abrego, as another inmate provided instructions to act decisively against the rapper.
When inmates were released for showers the following morning, a group including Adrian “Slick” Bueno, Andrew “Largo” Shinaia, and Jude “Crazy” Valle reportedly attacked Abrego in his cell. Michael “Weasel” Ortiz was alleged to have obscured surveillance cameras during the incident.
While the assault did cause physical harm to Abrego, the murder attempt was ultimately unsuccessful.
By March 2024, communications continued between Leyva and another associate about Abrego’s activities, indicating that he was live-streaming a video from outside his home.
Leyva’s associate, Euan, responded by attempting to locate Abrego, even sending an image of a firearm to Leyva after discovering that the rapper was not home.
Additionally, Euan claimed to have vandalized Abrego’s family home, sharing images that included threats promoting violence and murder.
As of Wednesday, Euan remains at large, evading capture as the investigation continues into this dangerous conspiracy involving numerous participants and a connection to the Mexican Mafia.
This troubling case highlights the interconnectedness of gang activity, social media communication, and violence within the prison system, raising serious concerns about public safety and the reach of gang influence.
The ongoing investigation signals a strong commitment from law enforcement to tackle gang-related crime and ensure accountability for those involved in threats of violence against artists like Swifty Blue.
image source from：latimes
