People v. Soto CA2/8

BACKGROUND

In 2011, Tim Cullen ran a marijuana dispensary in Valley Village, sometimes referred to as North Hollywood. Individuals claiming to be members of the Mexican Mafia threatened to destroy his business and kill him unless he paid them money. He paid. In 2013, an acquaintance told Cullen that appellant Soto wanted to speak with him. Cullen met appellant at a hotel. Appellant said he was a founding member of the Mexican Mafia. He was upset that individuals had been demanding money from Cullen in the name of the Mexican Mafia. Appellant said they were going to get to the bottom of it “because nobody uses the Mexican Mafia name like this.” Cullen said appellant made it sound like the threats for money were wrong and the individuals should not have been making the threats. He believed the demands for money would end. After the meeting, the individuals stopped demanding money from Cullen. Cullen then learned that he was now supposed to be paying money to appellant. One day, appellant came to Cullen’s place of business with Jose “Dreamer” Rodriguez and Jaime “Cholo” Garcia, who Cullen learned were also members of the Mexican Mafia. They told Cullen he now owed them money for…