Three brothers who led a violent street gang that targeted witnesses they believed were snitches received lengthy prison sentences Wednesday after a trial in a Jefferson County court.
Michael, 46, and Timmy Valanzuela, 38, were sentenced to 96 years, and Jimmy Dino Valanzuela, 44, was sentenced to 72 years.
The three leaders of the Gallant Knights Insane were convicted of numerous charges including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation to commit murder.
Michael and Timmy Valanzuela were also convicted of being habitual criminals.
Among other crimes, Jimmy and Timmy tried to kill Theodore Trujillo Sr. at a bar in Lakewood in February 2014, according to their indictment.
Trujillo survived the attack, during which he was shot in the chin.
While incarcerated in the Jefferson County Jail, sometime between Oct. 1, 2013, and April 30, 2014, Timmy Valanzuela told another prisoner “he wanted Trujillo killed so he could not testify at trial,” the indictment said.
The statement led to a charge of solicitation to commit murder.
The gang was also linked to the 2012 fatal shooting of Christopher Garduno, 38, who was found dead in a vehicle in Northglenn, the indictment shows. Garduno was shot once in the back of the head.
Investigators believe Garduno was killed because he had previously cooperated with a federal investigation into several gang members. Jimmy Valanzuela is accused of ordering Garduno’s slaying.
The gang used various means of communication to disseminate information from members who were in prison that included information on the location of people the gang wanted to retaliate against for their alleged betrayal.
They communicated to solicit assault or murder of those targeted by the gang.
“We are very pleased with this sentence,” District Attorney Peter Weir, said in a news release. “This was a very violent and highly organized street gang whose members had targeted witnesses for death in Jefferson County. Other members of the GKI are known to have killed witnesses they believed to have cooperated with police.”
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671, tmcghee@denverpost.com or @dpmcghee
