Prison Penpal Johnny Martinez

Johnny Martinez

Johnny is 48 and incarcerated in the US (CA).

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EXONERATED, BUT STILL INCARCERATED

“Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed– and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors.” (Ecclesiastes 4:1)

The above verse reminds me of the thousands of people that have been wrongfully convicted. Thousands have been exonerated, while thousands continue to rot away in incarceration. One case that always comes to mind in that of former state police David Camm. He was wrongly convicted twice. It wasn’t until his third trial – and thirteen years of unjust imprisonment – that he was finally acquitted of murder. All along, it was another man – who had no connection to Mr. Camm – that was responsible for the murders. Prosecuting authorities knew that Mr. Camm was innocent, but continued to prosecute him anyway, based on fabricated expert testimony (see documentary “Unraveled: Experts on Trial”).

This type of prosecutorial misconduct has been and continues to be a recurring theme in our society. And I know from experience because I, too, was recently exonerated of murder on December 18th, 2023, by the Honorable Sheila Hanson of the Orange County Superior Court, case #94NF0824. I was resentenced to a misdemeanor simple assault, and basically did THREE DECADES of imprisonment for nothing. Yet, I remain confined. I’m now fighting federal charges, which were filed against me in retaliation for my legal success in the state court system (see blog for details).

I am not searching/seeking romance. I am simply seeking friendship/correspondence from people from all walks of life. Especially from those that feel our justice system is in need of repair, and would like to help me do just that- even if it’s only with encouraging words. I’m confident you will find me and my story interesting. I do not judge nor discriminate, for we are all children of the same Universe. I thank you for your time and hope to hear from you.

Prosecuting and Oppressing the Innocent

“Again I looked and saw all the oppression… I saw the tears of the oppressed… power was on the side of their oppressors… If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.” (King Solomon – Ecclesiastes 4:1, 5:8)

Even way before our Founding Fathers enacted the Bill of Rights to protect us American citizens from governmental oppression, injustice and oppression have been around for a very long time and has only gotten worse. If King Solomon saw all the oppression that was taking place before the birth of Christ, I can only imagine what he would be saying if he were still alive today?

While no system is flawless, our criminal justice system is in need of major repair. While some may say that when a wrongly convicted prisoner’s petition for habeas corpus is granted – after decades of incarceration – is proof that our system works, I disagree. Our justice system is supposed to prevent a wrongful conviction. No one, not a single person, should be convicted and do a single day in prison If they are innocent. Yet, our nation has the highest wrongful conviction rate in the world. Thousands of prisoners have been exonerated throughout the years. Sadly, thousands more – who are actually innocent – remain unjustly imprisoned. To me, that’s overwhelming evidence that our justice system is not functioning in the manner it’s supposed to.

The jury system is designed to be the highest safeguard in our criminal justice system. In theory, a jury cannot convict unless the evidence proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. But in practice, sometimes the jury does not apply this reasonable doubt standard and will convict based on their own bias or prejudice. Usually, based on bad character evidence. A perfect example is the case of “The Memphis Three.” The character assassination and appeals to the jurors’ passion and prejudice was obvious. If you haven’t seen the documentary on the Memphis Three, I encourage you to do so.

Even though jurors wrongfully convict sometimes, the ones to blame are the prosecutors. Unfortunately, many prosecutors do not care about truth and justice. Indeed, many proceed with a win-at-all-costs mentality and will fight till the bitter end, even when they know the defendant is innocent. Such a case is that of former state police David Camm.

Mr. Camm’s case is one of the most egregious injustices ever. He was wrongfully convicted twice. It wasn’t until his third trial and thirteen years of unjust imprisonment that he was finally acquitted of murder. All along, it was another man, who had no connection to Mr. Camm whatsoever, that was responsible. Prosecuting authorities knew that Mr. Camm was innocent, but continued to prosecute him anyway based on fabricated expert testimony and baseless theory (see documentary, ‘Unraveled: Experts on Trial’). This case was truly a fundamental miscarriage of justice, and my heart especially goes out to Mr. Camm. Just think about everything he went through. He comes home to find his family murdered and he has no idea what the heck happened (which is evident by his frantic 911 call). Then, after losing his entire family, he gets blamed for the murder, arrested, and wrongfully convicted, not once but twice! Now, imagine his trip to the state pen (prison). While he’s innocent, the other convicts likely didn’t believe him. All they see is someone who is in there for killing a woman and children. Not a good look, and I’m sure he didn’t have many fans. I could only imagine what his life was like for thirteen years. Prisons are a dehumanizing regime designed to crush the human spirit. For an innocent person that does not belong there, it’s a living hell.

Mr. Camm should have never been tried for a third time once the real killer was arrested. The prosecutor clearly knew Mr. Camm was innocent, but did not care. All that mattered was obtaining another wrongful conviction. Disturbingly, that’s the M.O. of many prosecutors these days, who tend to prosecute out of animus and/or other improper reasons. Prosecutors are now persecutors, and quite frankly, don’t give a damn about our precious Constitution. Or, as one of our nation’s most brave-hearted District Judge puts it, “The government just does not seem to care about the Constitution.” (U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney – ‘Daily Journal’, June 13th, 2024).

One of the main reasons why the government does not care about the Constitution and continues to brazenly persecute “We the People” is due to the lack of accountability. The government is quick to prosecute alleged lawbreakers, but what about when they break the law? When they suppress exculpatory evidence? Or destroy it? Or submit false evidence, or perjured testimony? Or knowingly sending an innocent man (or woman) to prison, like David Camm? These crimes occur often by overzealous prosecuting authorities without any consequences. Where’s the justice? Unfortunately, this egregious prosecutorial misconduct will continue to occur unless government officials are disbarred and prosecuted for their wrongs towards humanity. No one is above the law. Especially those who swore to uphold it.

Mr. Camm is not alone in this world of prosecutorial misconduct. There are thousands like him. I’m one of them. I was recently exonerated of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in People v. Martinez, No. 94NF0824. On December 18, 2023, the Honorable Sheila F. Hanson of the Orange County Superior Court vacated my conviction and re-sentenced me to misdemeanor simple assault. I no longer have a criminal history other than the misdemeanor conviction that’s now over three decades old. I basically did three decades of incarceration for an offense that never warranted a single day in prison to begin with. However, I remain confined and now going on over 30 years of uninterrupted imprisonment.

Not surprisingly, I am now being charged with a federal RICO indictment in the U.S. District Court, Central District of California in the United States v. Martinez, et. al, No. 8:22-cr-00034-CJC. Those that have been following my legal saga are fully aware of the retaliatory circumstances surrounding this new federal case. For those that do not know much about this matter, allow me to enlighten.

When I hit the prison yard at the age of eighteen (18), I immediately started to attend the law library and study the law. Being wrongly convicted of murder was all the motivation I needed to get myself in that library as often as I could. To my surprise, I understood the law instantly, and it was love at first sight. Within a short period of time, I became a successful jailhouse lawyer and certified paralegal. Throughout the years, I have obtained multiple administrative court victories on behalf of myself and my fellow prisoners.

Jailhouse lawyers are despised by state and federal officials. Could decisions and studies from the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) confirm that jailhouse lawyers face frequent reprisal and harassment for their advocacy. For a jailhouse lawyer like me, the retaliation is more severe for two main reasons: 1) My status and ethnic affiliation; and, 2) My legal assistance tends to focus on my fellow Latino / Mexican-American prisoners: the vast majority being from the hood, ghetto, and/or barrio (i.e. so-called gang members and/or associates). As such, my jailhouse lawyering and activism tends to challenge the status quo and the powers that be.

After over 20 years of studying crime and punishment, various laws, and the prison industry and environment, I have become convinced that gang members and associates are one of the most oppressed and persecuted groups of people in the state of California, and perhaps the nation, especially those of Mexican descent. Both the California and United States Supreme Court have ruled that membership in a group is a First Amendment right. In December of 2022, the California Supreme Court reinforced this in People v. Ware, a gang case regarding a member of the Piru Bloods. And in 2023, Justice Gorsuch of the U.S. Supreme Court went one step further and declared that the First Amendment was and is an inalienable human right guaranteed to all in our great nation.

Yet, the media – some who receive funding from the powers that be – frequently degrades and demonizes the “detested” gang member, and even “criminalizes” the constitutional liberty right to affiliation. This fear mongering permits the invidious discrimination toward suspected gang members and the enactment and/or enforcement of draconian laws that adversely affect gang members only. But just don’t take my word for it: According to Law Professor Fareed Nassor Hayat at the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law, gang statutes across the nation: “forces poor, young men of color, seasoned gang members, novice gang members, or simply accused gang members, to defend themselves UNDER A DIFFERENT SET OF LEGAL STANDARDS than what the Constitution mandates…” (see ‘Applying Monell Bifurcation to State Gang Cases, 88 U. Cin. L. Rev. 129 (2019), at p. 135).

Professor Hayat is absolutely correct. In many of the cases I have worked on, I have observed some egregious injustices. Not surprisingly, all in gang cases. Professor Hayat highlights this bigotry as follows “Criminal defendants in… gang cases… are undereducated, under resourced, descendants of the oppressed, sometimes dangerous and violent, but almost ALWAYS POOR AND MINORITY, that police and legislators disproportionally degrade, disregard and hold to a completely DIFFERENT STANDARD UNDER THE LAW.” (see ‘Preserving due process’ at p. 136).

Unfortunately, that’s the reality when it comes to minority ethnic groups, and throughout the years this is the type of oppressive regime I have challenged and continue to challenge. For me, it’s much more than simply practicing law or providing legal assistance. For me, it’s a way of life and spiritual calling: and that’s to provide a voice to the voiceless, maintain justice and defend the rights of the oppressed. Indeed, scripture makes it an obligation (see PROVERBS 31:8-9, [Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; defend the rights of all those who are destitute… defend the rights of the poor and needy.]; ISAIAH 1:17 [Seek justice. Defend the oppressed]).

As one can imagine, however, speaking up for the unpopular and defamatory rights of the oppressed does not sit well with others. Especially the oppressor. All we need to do is look at those civil rights leaders that fought oppression. Martin Luther King once said, “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed.” And he was assassinated. Same with Malcolm X. Indeed, legendary rapper and poet Tupac Shakur couldn’t have said it any better in his song ‘Change’: “It’s time to fight back, that’s what Huey said, two shots in the dark, now Huey’s dead.” A true and courageous civil rights leader and/or activist threatens the status quo and the regime of injustice set in place by the oppressor.

I know what it’s like to be subjected to retaliation and harassment, which comes in different shapes and sizes. Throughout the years, I have faced and actually experienced different forms of reprisals. For a jailhouse lawyer like me, reprisals come with the territory. It’s inevitable. The most serious of reprisals that I have faced are those put into place by the gang units / task force. They refer to themselves as Gooners, Gang Squad, Green Wall, G-Unit, Task Force, and/or other similar names, but it’s all the same. To me and many others, they are their own gang and own enterprise and have a history of misconduct, civil rights violation, and oppression towards ethnic minority groups.

On more than one occasion, these gooners have attempted to get me killed and/or place me in harm’s way and/or bad standing with my fellow prisoners. They have also defamed my character and brought false charges against me in the past, which I have defeated. This federal case is just one more overt act in furtherance of their conspiratorial schemes for revenge, which I can and will prove.

All this started back in 2015 when the Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) attempted to obtain a so-called “gang injunction” against my own community in the city of Placentia. To me, it was an unconstitutional attempt to legalize racial profiling and discrimination. Thus, I petitioned the ACLU seeking their assistance to defend my own community. They agreed and put Sean Garcia-Leys, civil rights lawyer, on the case. I and my mother, Dolores Canales (a devout Christian and human rights activist), remained active in the community’s legal fight against the OCDA. My mom even addressed the city council – among other political activists, which was reported in the media.

At the time I wrote the ACLU, I was confined at the infamous Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP), serving an indeterminate term in the prison’s solitary confinement unit, based solely on suspected gang affiliation. The gang unit had a practice of “validating” (i.e. identifying) prisoners as gang members and/or associates, and then placing them in solitary confinement for the purpose of coercing confessions from them. I and my mother – along with other prisoners and their loved ones – were instrumental in ending this inhumane practice after decades of torture. Thus, at the time I petitioned the ACLU, I and my mother were viewed with disdain by the gang unit, whose identity and purpose was diminishing, and unbeknownst to me, both I and my mom were on the FBI’s radar for exercising our First Amendment rights.

At the end of December 2015, I was released from solitary confinement and transferred to the inmate general population (GP), at Salinas Valley. In 2016, numerous Latino prisoners on the yard from Orange County solicited my legal assistance because their communities were also being attacked with gang injunctions by the same OCDA that I, my mother, and Placentia residents were fighting in court. The main city being hit with over a dozen lawsuits seeking gang injunctions was the city of Santa Ana. The city of Santa Ana has some of the largest gangs in OC, and no doubt the largest gang task force in the entire county.

True to my way of life as a jailhouse lawyer and activist, I started assisting numerous Latino communities, taking on the OCDA and various gang units, including the OC Sheriff’s Department (OCSD). Due to the size and complexity of this task, I believed that a law firm would be needed to represent dozens of communities. Thus, I requested all the affected communities to fundraise and contribute whatever they could to retain competent counsel for mass litigation and eventually a class action lawsuit. Simultaneously, I worked on a county-wide gang truce to end senseless gang violence. From 2016 to 2017, significant progress was made. And yes, as you correctly guessed, that made me a huge target.

The Orange County Violent Gang Task Force (OCVGTF) started to harass members of the community and mentioned my name more than once. I even received correspondence from OC authorities for me to seize my constitutionally protected activities. The Santa Ana Gang Task Force (i.e. the OCVGTF) made repeated calls to the Prison Gang Unit (IGI) to “validate” me as a prison gang member – which they did in July of 2017 – and to subject me to different forms of harassment, including placing me back in solitary confinement. However, I continued on exercising my First Amendment rights and the IGI told local authorities (i.e. OCVGTF) that I have not done anything wrong and they could not place me back in solitary confinement without evidence of serious misconduct. Needless to say, this did not sit well with a disgruntled and overzealous OC Gang Task Force.

On January 16, 2018, the Salinas IGI hit my cell and placed me in solitary confinement and made it clear it was not their doing. Lt. Ortega and C/O Deanzo – of the IGI – then handed me a CDCR 114-D form, which stated the specific reasons and grounds for my placement in isolation. According to this form, the Santa Ana Gang Task Force provided the prison with false information alleging I “ordered” the attempted murder of inmate Cooper. Fortunately, prison officials conducted an investigation and concluded the information was unreliable and released me back into the inmate GP on March 1, 2018. I was specifically told by prison officials that OC authorities were quite upset at this decision.

Sure enough, the OCVGTF and OCDA colluded to charge me in state court and maliciously prosecuted me without probable cause. One week later, on March 7th, 2018, I was indicted for murder and several other crimes and transported to the OC jail, where I was placed in a world of total isolation and sensory and sleep deprivation. This was retaliatory action and sweet revenge in its purest form. This was also a criminal conspiracy pursuant to Cal. Penal Code 182(a)(2), amongst the OCVGTF/OCDA, to falsely and maliciously indict me, knowing full well I did not have anything to do with these crimes. Indeed, three different OC Superior Court judges vindicated me of ALL these charges and dismissed ALL of them for lack of probable cause and in the “interest of justice.” What does it tell you right there?

So now, here we are with this federal RICO indictment, which is once again retaliatory and initiated in bad faith by the very same prosecution team- OCVGTF. I won fair and square in state court, and what’s more egregious is the undeniable fact that this bogus federal indictment contains the same charges that were dismissed in state court. In light of the undisputed fact that a state judge made a finding of no probable cause, it’s obvious then that federal authorities misled and are engaged in prosecutorial misconduct in the federal grand jury proceeding. And while this federal indictment alleges additional crimes not charged by state prosecution in state court, one must be mindful that there is nothing new or reliable about these so-called additional offenses. If anything, adding them now so late in the game only bolsters my defense of vindictive prosecution. These so-called additional offenses are from 2017 and were clearly available for prosecution. But let me tell you why they were not prosecuted back then: because they couldn’t. They were so lacking in substance that the OCDA was unable to file charges. On top of that, the informant that the OCVGTF was using back then in 2017 just happened to be a career informant whom Scott Sanders uncovered during the ‘Snitch Scandal’ as a complete fraud. Thus, the OCDA exercised sound judgment in refusing to file such charges with this type of despicable informant and fraud feasor as their star witness. Yet the feds want to include these stale and unreliable offenses along with others that were dismissed in state court for no probable cause, in a federal indictment, and simply package it all up as a RICO in a miscarriage of justice.

This misconduct is magnified when one looks at the chicanery used by the OCVGTF from the very start. They were always part of the prosecution team since day one and blatantly abused their power when they didn’t get their way. And that’s what this federal indictment represents. Fraud and judicial deception by a disgruntled and overzealous prosecution team – who got embarrassed in state court – now attempted to get a third bite at the apple. And the hypocrisy surrounding their federal indictment is repugnant to substantial justice and notions of fair play. This is because the U.S. Department of Justice back in October of 2022 wrote a scathing report condemning the OC Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) for violating the Constitution by misusing informants and criticized the OCSD for giving informants money and fast food and other perks – in short, inducement. But how can that report be taken serious when the Department of Justice and their subordinates do not practice what they preach? For one, during the ‘Snitch Scandal’ that was uncovered by Scott Sanders, it was federal authorities who were sending the informants to the county jail and aiding and abetting the OCSD in the civil rights violations. Furthermore, the lead agent that put this indictment together for federal prosecutors is a detective of the SAPD and member of the OCVGTF who employed the very unlawful methods condemned by the Department of Justice (DOJ). Detective G. Zuniga placed hundreds of dollars, if not more, on the accounts of jailhouse snitches and treated them to Carl’s Jr. and Jack in the Box, just so they could provide fabricated statements and testimony against me, and when Detective Zuniga (who is also “deputized” as an FBI agent) applied for a Title III wiretap, he unsurprisingly neglected to inform the Magistrate Judge that the informants he was relying upon were the same informants uncovered by Scott Sanders as fabricators and perjurers. He also left out that the deputy sheriffs he was relying on – Jonathan Larson / Brian Murray – had a shady past of malfeasance. Indeed, Larson needed immunity to testify in a hearing in the case of In re Rodriguez No. M-15746 because he perjured himself in a previous case, and Murray was placed on administrative leave by the OCSD after perjuring himself at a preliminary hearing in my previous state case. And both of these deputies are on the OCDA’s Brady list for tempering / mishandling evidence (known as the “Evidence Booking Scandal”).

Thus, this federal indictment is not only retaliatory but also built on junk evidence by criminals with moral turpitude. The District Judges that issued wiretap orders were not aware of all these fabrications and perjury. Neither was the federal grand jury. The OCSD/SAPD have a well-documented history of corruption and violating the rule of law. Detective/Agent G. Zuniga is likewise unethical, fabricates evidence, and tramples all the civil rights of American citizens. And federal authorities have compounded these wrongs by not only pampering their star witness, but also allowing him to get away with murder.

Their star witness is Omar Mejia. A convicted violent felon who entered our great nation illegally, not for a better life, but to harm American citizens. This is their key evidence against me, his self-serving statements that I told him to do the crime back in 2017. The problem with this is obvious: I never met the guy back in 2017. He was in Calipatria and I was in Salinas Valley. There are zero recordings or wiretaps of me telling him to kill anyone, but what does exist is overwhelming evidence implicating him in the murder of R.V., including his own testimony! Indeed, that is one of the reasons why he started cooperating with the government: because I was going to review the discovery and find out he had a hand in murdering my cousin. Yes, the victim R.V. was my cousin. So, instead of facing the music like a man, he instead conspired with Zuniga and the government to blame me without any corroboration, specifically, that I told him two weeks before the murder that R.V. was “done.” And that he interpreted that to mean kill. Again, there is no proof of that. To the contrary, physical proof undermines Mejia’s self-serving statement, which I will be showing at an upcoming hearing to show the judge that their (the government) entire case against me is a fraud.

What’s very disturbing about Mejia and the government’s reliance on him is the fact that he was not charged with R.V.’s murder, even though he admitted under oath that he directed it (October 10th, 2023, trial testimony in the trial of co-defendant James Mendez et al.). On top of that, at a subsequent trial of another co-defendant (R. Amezcua), in January of 2024, Mejia again admitted under oath that he personally committed two murders. Yet, not charged with these either. What this clearly shows is that the government is allowing Mejia to get away with at least three murders so long as he sings the government’s tune. Where is the justice in that? Let us not forget that Mejia was already convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit murder for pistol whipping and trying to murder a security guard, a crime that could have been prevented had the government deported him back to his own country back then. But none of this matters to the prosecution, so long as Mejia says, “Johnny made me do it,” without any corroboration whatsoever, and when all the discovery corroborated Mejia’s culpability. And only his culpability. And that just goes to show the government’s win-at-all-costs mentality. When you look at it for what it is, it’s downright embarrassing. Knowing Mejia, he’s likely smirking behind Zuniga’s back, as he devours fast food from Carl Jr. or Jack in the Box, paid by the government. But that should be no surprise. After all, we are dealing with an agency (SAPD), that was caught on a recording – as exposed by Scott Sanders during the ‘Snitch Scandal,’ telling notorious jailhouse snitch Oscar Moriel, “The more you give, the more you get,” and even boasting of having “Uncle Sam,” (i.e. the feds), on their side.

But what’s even more despicable and pitiful is how the government is coddling Mejia just so he fulfills their retaliatory desire, especially since they know, or should know, the type of person he is. He has a history of fraud, deception, and perjury. He’s a career perjurer, and his performance on the witness stand in the last two trials displays it perfectly. But none of this matters to the government, and they continue to provide him with huge benefits in exchange for his falsehoods and perjury, which they are fully aware of. In fact, they are aiding his lies and suborning his perjury by treating him to fast food and then taking him to the prosecutor’s office to pollute and taint the evidence in this case. That is totally contrary to American justice and the due process guaranteed to fundamental fairness and an even level playing field. That concept of due process does not exist in this case at all, and there is no repairing the harm of or wiping away the taint of evidence caused by the government’s special treatment of a piece of scum like Mejia and permitting him to read wiretap transcripts while simultaneously listening to the actual wiretaps so he can give the false appearance while testifying that he’s able to positively identify a particular voice on a recording. What the government did with Mejia behind closed door is despicable, fraudulent, and flat-out irreparable. It’s no different than taking a witness to their office for a photo line-up, with the photo of the suspect circled with a marker ready for the witness to identify. And right before this is done, they butter up the witness with a delicious mouth-watering bacon cheeseburger with extra pickles and mayo just the way the witness loves it.

The government’s misuse of Mejia is an abuse of power and a mockery of our constitutional system of justice. Nearly 15 years ago, our Ninth Circuit Federal Appeals Court dealt with a similar issue. This is what the Justices had to say about informers like Mejia: “The most dangerous informer of all in the jailhouse snitch who claims another prisoner has confessed to him. The snitch now stands ready to testify in return for some consideration in his own case. Sometimes these snitches tell the truth, BUT MORE OFTEN THEY INVENT TESTIMONY AND STRAY DETAILS OUT OF THE AIR.” (See, Maxwell V. Roe, 628 F. 3d 486, 505 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing Justice Stephen S. Trott, ‘Words of Warning for Prosecutors Using Criminals as Witnesses’, 47 Hastings L.J. 1381, 1394)).

Despite this admonishment, the misuse of jailhouse informers is a recurring theme. Indeed, a few years after Maxwell v. Roe was decided, Scott Sanders revealed the OC ‘Snitch Scandal,’ and the flagrant misconduct by prosecuting authorities, and the win-at-all-cost mentality. Yet, not even this exposé by Scott Sanders fixed much, nor discouraged overzealous and/or corrupt officials. And that is clearly demonstrated with this federal indictment and the government’s heavy reliance on Omar Mejia. Indeed, the very agencies involved in the ‘Snitch Scandal’ are the same ones involved in the manufacture of this federal indictment. And quite disturbingly, using the same informers that were used during the ‘Snitch Scandal,’ and exposed by the honorable and courageous Scott Sanders as complete fabricators and shameless liars under oath. The time has come for this unconstitutional and criminal conduct to come to an end once and for all. And to accomplish that, prosecuting authorities must be reprimanded, disbarred, and civilly and criminally prosecuted. Those abusing their power, not caring about the Constitution, and disregarding the rule of law, are not above the law and must be held accountable just like everyone else.

When I think of corrupt agents like G. Zuniga and his co-conspirators that fabricated evidence and relied on informers that are proven liars to obtain wiretaps and a fraudulent indictment to maliciously prosecute me, I am reminded of what the greatest American trial lawyer of all time eloquently stated over 30 years ago: “I found the minions of the law —the special agents of the FBI— to be men who proved themselves not only fully capable, but also utterly willing to manufacture evidence, to conceal crucial evidence and even change the rules that governed life and death if, in the prosecution of the accused, it seemed expedient to do so.” (Gerry Spence, ‘From Freedom to Slavery: The Rebirth of Tyranny in America’, at p. 21)

Unfortunately, things have only gotten worse since then and will continue to worsen without accountability. The weaponization of the federal criminal justice system against me and my co-defendants is not only the type of oppression that King Solomon spoke of, it is also inherently racist. I plan to use this oppressive prosecution as a platform to prove that in Orange County – and perhaps the Central District – Latinos are disproportionately targeted for RICO prosecutions, and RICO is being used like the Greaser Law, which was enacted in 1855 and repealed in the 20th century. I also plan to use this injustice to hold the Oppressor accountable once and for all.

Johnny Martinez

Date of Birth: 03/22/1976 (48 years old)
Gender: Male
Marital Status: In a Relationship
Sexual Orientation: Straight
Race: N/A
Ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 5 ft. 4 in.
Body Type: Athletic
Hometown: Placentia, California (USA)
Spoken Languages: English
Religion: Universal
Astrological Sign: Aries

Profile will end on: 07/01/2025

Johnny Martinez #2400000017

C/O Santa Ana Jail – S.A.J. E-6
P.O. Box 22003
Santa Ana, CA 92701
USA

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Incarcerated Since: 1994
Sentence Received: 26 years to life (vacated) / new federal charges pending
Earliest Release: N/A

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Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Activity
Using & Carrying a Firearm during and in relation to, and Possession of a Firearm in furtherance of, a Crime of Violence, and Brandishing & Discharging a Firearm, Resulting in Death
Conspiracy to Distribute & Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine & Heroin (x2)

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