Man Accused of Killing Gang Member Convicted

SAN BERNARDINO>> A San Bernardino gang member was convicted Wednesday, Nov. 2 for killing another gang member and burying his body in a backyard. Victor Angulo, 42, was found guilty of second degree murder and the jury found true a gun allegation. On May 22, 2013, officers from the San Bernardino Police Department responded to a residence and found the decomposed body of 21-year-old Angel Cortez, of San Bernardino, in the backyard, in a hole covered with plywood. According to Deputy District Attorney Cecilia Joo, who prosecuted the case, the victim was a member of a local gang, who had come to the house to collect money from the defendant over a credit card scheme involving both men. "The victim had come to the house several times on previous occasions threatening all the residents, including the defendant," Joo said. "On this occasion, both men ended up getting into an argument. Cortez grabbed a pair of garden shears laying around the house, lunged at Angulo and then ran out of the room." The defendant grabbed a gun and chased after Cortez and shot him in the back of the head, as he was running out the front door. Angulo is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 12, 2016 at the San Bernardino Justice Center in Dept. S-18. He faces 40 years to life in state prison.