Los Angeles County prosecutors have charged 19 individuals in a conspiracy to murder rapper Nelson Abrego, known as Swifty Blue. The case centers around an order allegedly given by Manuel “Snuffy” Quintero, a member of the Mexican Mafia, who reportedly wanted Abrego dead due to a personal dispute.
The complaint, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, outlines a wide-reaching conspiracy involving TikTok messages and recorded jail calls. It connects inmates from various locations, including Kern County and downtown Los Angeles, as well as gang members from Paramount, where both Quintero and Abrego are from.
Quintero, 49, was arrested on Wednesday and has not yet entered a plea. His criminal history includes convictions for assault and drug-related offenses. The motive for Quintero’s anger toward Abrego remains unclear. In a past interview, Abrego had avoided discussing any issues with the Mexican Mafia or “jailhouse politics.”
The conspiracy came to light after Giuseppe “Clever” Leyva, an alleged subordinate of Quintero, informed an informant in late 2022 about plans to attack Abrego “on sight.” Leyva is currently in custody for unrelated charges involving drug and gun trafficking. He has pleaded guilty to methamphetamine trafficking but has not yet been sentenced.
The situation escalated when Leyva warned another person via TikTok to stay away from Abrego, stating that the rapper’s career was finished. In November 2023, Abrego was jailed on a gun possession charge, and communications among inmates suggested that he was in danger. One inmate even told his mother to check on Abrego, indicating he was “no good.”
In a chilling exchange, another inmate mentioned a rapper who was recently attacked in jail, suggesting a similar fate for Abrego. Prosecutors allege that on the morning of the attack, several inmates entered Abrego’s cell, where they assaulted him while another inmate obstructed a security camera.
Fortunately, Abrego survived the attack. However, the threats against him did not stop there. Leyva continued to communicate about Abrego’s activities, even sending messages about vandalizing the rapper’s family home with graffiti referencing murder.
Among those charged in the conspiracy are Onesimo “Vamps” Gonzalez and his mother, Dominga Gonzalez. They were implicated in the communications surrounding the attack. Euan, another alleged conspirator, remains at large after evading arrest.
This case highlights the dangerous intersection of music, crime, and gang culture in Los Angeles. As the investigation unfolds, it raises questions about the influence of gangs on artists and the lengths to which they will go to enforce their will.