Teen Hitmen Sentenced to 25 Years for Sinaloa Cartel Shooting in Chula Vista

Two California teens were sentenced to 25 years for a cartel-ordered hit in Chula Vista. Read about the federal crackdown on juvenile recruitment by cartels.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 14, 2026, 5:58 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Courthouse News Service.

Cartel Strategy Thwarted by Federal Sentencing

In a high-stakes sentencing at the James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep U.S. Courthouse, two teenage defendants learned they would spend the next quarter-century in federal prison. Johncarlo Quintero, 16, and Andrew Nunez, 17, were convicted of traveling from Wilmington to Chula Vista in March 2024 with the explicit intent to execute a target for the Sinaloa Cartel. U.S. District Judge Todd Robinson emphasized that the severity of the sentence was designed to dismantle the "juvenile loophole" that cartels have recently used to shield young assassins from lengthy incarcerations.

A Persistent and Violent Murder Attempt

The details of the March 26, 2024, incident underscore the ruthless nature of the operation. Prosecutors revealed that the defendants stalked a man, identified as "Victim One," while he dined with his family at a local Chili’s restaurant. As the family exited, Quintero fired a round into the victim’s legs before his weapon jammed. Undeterred by the presence of the victim's family, the teens then attempted to run the man over with their vehicle. Failing to complete the hit, the duo later returned to the victim’s residence that same night, accompanied by 28-year-old Ricardo Sanchez, and opened fire on the home.

The Fatal Residence Confrontation

The second attack turned into a deadly shootout when a friend of the intended target returned fire in self-defense. While the friend managed to kill Sanchez, he suffered disfiguring injuries to his hand, arm, and face from the gunfire unleashed by Quintero and Nunez. Inside the home, two family members—including a minor—were forced to take cover. Judge Robinson highlighted the lasting trauma of the event, noting that the defendants’ actions resulted in a death, a permanent disfigurement, and profound psychological harm to innocent bystanders.