Gang member guilty in first Red Sol jury trial

A Tulare County Superior Court jury Friday convicted Pedro Lopez, 35, of Reedley, of gang crimes related to 2015’s Operation Red Sol gang sweep, which became the largest criminal filing in county history.

Lopez’s conviction is the first jury trial conviction of a defendant charged in the case. Prior to Lopez’s conviction, 58 defendants of 81 charged had pleaded to a variety of conspiracy, robbery, drug and weapons charges.

Lopez was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit home invasion robbery, one count of criminal street gang conspiracy, one count of attempted home invasion robbery, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. Each count is a felony and is enhanced by gang, prior strike, prior serious felony and prior prison admissions.

On Aug. 24-25, 2015, local law enforcement, along with the California Department of Justice, was engaged in conducting a large scale wiretap operation targeting the Tulare County Norteno criminal street gang. On these dates, it became apparent several subjects were plotting to commit multiple home invasion robberies in Visalia. On Aug. 25, gang members, including Lopez, set out to commit the robberies but were stopped by the Visalia Police Department following a high speed pursuit and foot chase through an east Visalia neighborhood.

Sentencing is set for March 24, in Tulare County Superior Court. Lopez faces in excess of 70 years to life in state prison.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kirk Davis of the Major Crimes Division and investigated by Detective Jeremy Rose of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.