Four Inmates From Victorville Federal Prison Indicted for 2013 Beating Death of Inmate

VICTORVILLE – Four inmates who were all housed at the Federal Correctional Institution II in the City of Victorville have been charged with the first-degree murder of another inmate.

The now unsealed indictment charges the four for the October 1, 2013, beating death of Javier Sanchez, a 38-year-old inmate serving a 10-year sentence for drug charges. Department of Justice officials said that all four inmates will be charged with premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The indictment states that Sanchez was being escorted to the recreation yard in the prison, where the three suspects attacked him. All four, repeatedly hit and kicked Sanchez leading to blunt force trauma to his head which led to his death. Even after Sanchez stopped breathing, the inmates continued with the planned beating, the indictment says.

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The four defendants are now all being housed at different prisons while awaiting their upcoming arraignments. Aurelio Patino, also known as “Augie,” 35, most recently of Riverside, who at the time of the alleged murder was serving a 16-month sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and who is currently serving a 100-month sentence in a California state. Adilson Reyes, aka “Shanky,” 37, most recently of Los Angeles, who is serving a 135-month sentence in a cocaine distribution case; Christopher Ruiz, aka “Sneaky,” 44, most recently of San Diego, who is serving a 10-year sentence after being convicted on racketeering and methamphetamine charges; and Jose Villegas, aka “Torch,” 37, most recently of Los Angeles, who is serving a 15-year sentence in a methamphetamine case.

If convicted of first-degree murder each defendant will be sentenced to life without parole or possibly the death penalty.