Monterey County District Attorney's Office
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Speakers Bureau The Speakers Bureau is a community outreach and education program that matches qualified members of the District Attorney’s staff with community groups and organizations wishing to learn more about various aspects of the criminal justice system. The program is free and available to the public. Entities such as neighborhood organizations, educational institutions, faith-based groups, and clubs or organizations should feel free to request a speaker for meeting or gathering. |
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| Multi-Cultural Community Council | |||
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Community Events
25th Annual Victims' Dedication Ceremony
Annual Police Memorial National Night Out - To be announced Public Safety Night - To be announced |
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The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office will serve as a strong voice for the community on important public safety issues. With a focus on legislative issues, the government relations team will take a proactive role in shaping laws that impact public safety. |
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Legislative Issues Assembly Bill 109 Realignment, which shifted thousands of state prison inmates to local jurisdictions. Proposition 47, which dramatically reduced the crime and consequences for drug users and thieves. Proposition 57, which eliminated prosecutors’ ability to directly send a juvenile accused of a serious or violent offense to adult court and created a new criteria for early release of prisoners from state prison. |
Bills Supported |
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Programs and Services A Victim Assistance Advocate will speak with you and determine how we can assist you. Program services are provided free of charge and there is no legal citizenship requirement to receive assistance. |
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Facility Dogs
Family Justice Center
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Upon the request of the jurisdictional law enforcement agency the
Monterey County District Attorney’s Office will investigate and
independently review an officer-involved shooting incident resulting
in injury or death, as well as all other uses of force resulting in
the death of individuals while in custody or under the control of
law enforcement officers. This review addresses whether the
officers involved committed any violation of criminal law. It
does not consider issues of civil liability, police tactics, or
department policies and procedures.
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Our Mission |
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Policies
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Frequently Asked Questions |
| Forms | Brochures | Career Opportunities Public Records Act Requests | Local Agencies/Resources |
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The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of
Investigation consists of 32 full time employees and multiple
volunteer interns. The Bureau of Investigation is managed by
Chief Investigator Ryan McGuirk who reports directly to District
Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni and has overall responsibility for
Bureau operations and resource allocation. Chief McGuirk manages the
Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of two (2) District
Attorney Captains. In addition to these command staff, the
Bureau of Investigation has twenty-four (24) Investigators, six (6)
Investigative Aides and several volunteer investigative interns.
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| Collaborative Courts | Criminal Prosecutions | Specialty Units | Fraud |
|
Speakers Bureau The Speakers Bureau is a community outreach and education program that matches qualified members of the District Attorney’s staff with community groups and organizations wishing to learn more about various aspects of the criminal justice system. The program is free and available to the public. Entities such as neighborhood organizations, educational institutions, faith-based groups, and clubs or organizations should feel free to request a speaker for meeting or gathering. |
|||
| Suggested Topics | |||
|
|
|
|
| Speaker Request Form | |||
| Multi-Cultural Community Council | |||
|
Programs and Services A Victim Assistance Advocate will speak with you and determine how we can assist you. Program services are provided free of charge and there is no legal citizenship requirement to receive assistance. |
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|
|
|
Facility Dogs |
|
Upon the request of the jurisdictional law enforcement
agency the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office will
investigate and independently review an officer-involved
shooting incident resulting in injury or death, as well as
all other uses of force resulting in the death of
individuals while in custody or under the control of law
enforcement officers. This review addresses whether
the officers involved committed any violation of criminal
law. It does not consider issues of civil liability,
police tactics, or department policies and procedures.
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| Press Releases |
| Press Release Archives |
| Social Media Links |
| Press Conference Videos |
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Our Mission |
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Policies | Frequently Asked Questions |
| Forms | Brochures | Career Opportunities Public Records Act Requests | Local Agencies/Resources |
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The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of
Investigation consists of 32 full time employees and
multiple volunteer interns. The Bureau of
Investigation is managed by Chief Investigator Ryan McGuirk
who reports directly to District Attorney Jeannine M.
Pacioni and has overall responsibility for Bureau operations
and resource allocation. Chief McGuirk manages the Bureau of
Investigation with the assistance of two (2) District
Attorney Captains. In addition to these command staff,
the Bureau of Investigation has twenty-four (24)
Investigators, six (6) Investigative Aides and several
volunteer investigative interns.
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Meet the District Attorney
Ms. Pacioni received her Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University. After receiving her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of San Diego, School of Law in 1990, she became licensed to practice law in the states of California and Arizona. In 1990, she worked as a Deputy District Attorney for the Kern County District Attorney’s Office and in 1992 she joined the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.
In 2001, she left to raise her family, returning after an 8-year sabbatical during which time she also served as a Grand Juror of the Monterey County Civil Grand Jury, and as President of the Junior League of Monterey County. In 2012, she joined the National Charity League of Monterey Bay, of which she has served as a member of their Board of Directors. Ms. Pacioni was formerly a Board Member of the Monterey Rape Crisis Center, and is currently a member of the Monterey County Children’s Council and the Child Abuse Prevention Council. She is also a member of the Monterey County Bar Association and the California District Attorneys Association and the Monterey County Chief Law Enforcement Officers Association.
Ms. Pacioni has devoted her entire legal career to the pursuit of justice while handling virtually every type of criminal case prosecuted in Monterey County. For 20 years as a prosecutor, she has tenaciously represented victims of crime in numerous high-profile cases involving murder, gang crimes, vehicular manslaughter, assault, robbery, child molestation, adult sexual assault, and elder abuse. On November 21, 2019, Ms. Pacioni was recognized by the Monterey County Women's Lawyers Association as the 2019 recipient of the Lady Justice Lifetime Achievement Award for Legal Advocacy and Community Service.
In 2018, she was elected and became the first female District Attorney in Monterey County.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Press Releases
OPERATION REDRUM TARGET CONVICTED FOR 2017 DOUBLE ATTEMPTED MURDER & 2018 MURDER
Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced today that following a two-week trial a jury convicted Julius Santa Cruz, age 24, of Salinas, of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and attempted murder. Santa Cruz faces a maximum sentence of 107 years-to-life at his February 19, 2026, sentencing. Superior Court Judge Mark E. Hood presided over this trial.
On August 13, 2017, John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 parked at apartment complex in East Salinas. Right when they parked a lone gunman fired twelve rounds at Doe #1 and Doe #2. Though they both suffered grave gunshot wounds, Doe #1 drove himself and Doe #2 two miles to Natividad Medical Center where lifesaving efforts prevailed.
On June 11, 2018, Sergio Carcamo walked alone to his residence on Center St. in East Salinas. Just before Carcamo reached his home three gunmen emerged from a car and fired 19 rounds at Carcamo. Seven of their rounds struck and killed Mr. Carcamo, 37, a migrant agriculture worker from Central America.
Initial investigation yielded scant evidentiary leads in both shootings.
In November 2018 investigators obtained a recording where Julius Santa Cruz, a Norteno gang member, detailed his commission of both shootings. In Santa Cruz’ account of the 2017 attempted murders of Doe #1 and Doe #2 he bragged that he “put not just one, but two, in critical [condition]” and that his gunfire earned him the nickname, “Drilla.” Additionally, in Santa Cruz’ account of Mr. Carcamo’s murder he described how he spotted Mr. Carcamo walking on the sidewalk, then drove to Mr. Carcamo’s location where Santa Cruz claimed he opened fire and “tagged” Carcamo with his gunfire before his gun jammed.
Charges in this case were the result of Operation Redrum, a five-year state and federal investigation that focused on shootings committed by members of three Salinas-based Norteno gangs, Northside Boronda (NSB), Santa Rita Bahamas (SRB), and Salinas East Market (SEM). That investigation resulted in federal RICO indictments of six Norteno gang members: Siaki “Gunner” Tavale, Andrew “Banger” Alvarado, John “Romeo” Magat, Mark Garcia, Anelu “Angel” Tavale, and Anthony “Hitter” Valdez. Each federal Defendant entered guilty pleas and received prison sentences ranging from 25 to 41 years.
Operation Redrum prosecutions by the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office have resulted in the following Convictions and Sentences to Date:
Fabian Alvarado, a Salinas resident, was found guilty and sentenced on December 11, 2017, by Judge Andrew G. Liu to 57 years to life in prison for the 2016 murder of Mario Puga on the 300 block of The Avenue in Salinas.
Santos Fonseca, a Salinas resident, was found guilty and sentenced on July 24, 2020, by Judge Pamela L. Butler to 152 years to life for the June 2018 murders of Lorenzo Acosta and Ernesto Garcia-Cruz.
Luis Atayde, a Salinas resident, was found guilty and sentenced on March 23, 2022, by Judge Stephanie E. Hulsey to 50 years to life for the February 11, 2017, murder of John Rodzach at the Hebbron Heights Community Center in Salinas.
Neil Aguillon-Palermo, a Salinas resident, was found guilty by jury and sentenced on May 12, 2022, by Judge Stephanie E. Hulsey to 64 years to life in prison for the February 12, 2017, double attempted murder of two Salinas residents on Orchard Street.
Robert Sosa, a Salinas resident, was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison on January 16, 2026, by Judge Mark E. Hood for the voluntary manslaughter of Daniel Morales in the parking lot of Buffalo Wild Wings in Salinas on January 7, 2017.
Retired Detective Byron Gansen led Salinas Police Department’s Operation Redrum investigation. Sergeant Rodolfo Roman and Retired Sergeant Albert Duran investigated the two charged shootings. District Attorney Investigator Daisy Gurley also investigated these shootings and assisted with trial. The surviving victims and families of all three victims were assisted by Victim Assistance Advocates Susana Reyes and Ana Galvez.
Contact Us
Main Office
142 W. Alisal Street, Suite A, Salinas, California 93901
Monterey Office
1200 Aguajito Rd. Room 301, Monterey, California 93940
King City Office
250 Franciscan Way, King City, California 93960
Phone: (831) 755-5070
Fax: (831) 755-5068
Email: publicinformation@co.monterey.ca.us