Leaders of two violent Colorado gangs plead guilty to murder, organized crime

The leaders of two violent gangs are the last of two dozen people prosecuted for a frightening amount of violence committed in the Denver metro area during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The two gangs were responsible for a number of car thefts, assaults, drive-by shootings, and murders. 

The Figureheads   

The Denver District Attorney's Office separately announced earlier this month the guilty pleas entered by 44-year-old Phillip Baca, Sr., and 22-year-old Angel "Taz" Espinoza.

Baca pleaded guilty March 21 to one count of conspiracy to commit murder and one count of violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act. 

Within days, Espinoza also pleaded guilty. He accepted two counts of second-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, and one count of violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act.

Baca's plea included an agreement with the court to be sentenced in June to 33 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Espinoza, likewise, already agreed to be sentenced to 95 years in May. 

The two men initially faced 136 and 217 criminal counts respectively. 

Police identified Baca as the leader of the "Few But Plenty" (FBP) street gang. FBP, between January 2020 and March 2022, committed at least 14 shootings, mostly drive-by shootings that targeted the gang's rivals in west Denver, according to investigators. 

"In numerous instances," the indictment against Baca and 10 other FBP members states, "innocent bystanders who had nothing to do with the inter-gang feuds were the victims of this violence."

Baca allegedly encouraged and sometimes explicitly ordered the younger members of FBP - some of them his sons and nephews - to commit violent crimes.

FBP was known for its members performing and posting music videos on social media platforms to earn subscriptions and 'street cred.' The group earned almost $13,000, according to the indictment. Viewership of its videos grew, as did revenue raised by that viewing, following the group's acts of violence, per police. 

Espinoza was the leader of the "Too Damn Smooth" (2D$) gang. From June 2019 into March 2023, 2D$ committed at least 18 shootings, according to investigators. Most of those, like FBP's, were actions against rival gang members. And, like FBP's, innocent people were caught up in the violence. The indictment counted nearly 200 people who were not gang members but who were caught in the crossfire or targeted directly after being misidentified by 2D$ shooters.

2D$ members also participated in posting music videos, perhaps a lesser degree than FBP. But 2D$ members were "prolific with their graffiti efforts," as stated in their indictment, and more violent. 2D$ was responsible for three killings. Espinoza were personally involved in one of them. 

Both men commanded "brutal criminal organization(s) that terrorized neighborhoods" on Denver's west side, as Denver District Attorney John Walsh stated in separate press releases.

The History

While police and investigators refused to say directly that the two gangs clashed with one another, there is at least one major incident connecting them both. A 45-year-old man, Paul Baca, Sr., was gunned down January 22, 2021, in Denver. Media reports indicate Paul Baca was shot near the intersection of West Alameda Avenue and South Raritan Street at 5:45 in the afternoon. He was driven to a hospital in the private vehicle and pronounced dead there.

Phillip Baca, the leader of Few But Plenty, is the brother of that shooting victim. Another member of the FBP gang is Paul Baca's son. 

The Denver District Attorney's Office blamed Espinoza's 2D$ crew for the killing. Court documents show 2D$ also killed another rival gang member in 2019.

The two gangs formed out of members from other gangs, according to both group's indictment. That is not uncommon. 

A commander for the Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAVEN) Task Force told CBS Colorado that criminal gangs form easily - and don't completely break up.  

"Violent gangs don't simply disappear—but each successful prosecution disrupts their ability to operate. The RAVEN Task Force tracks, targets, and adapts to these evolving threats wherever and however they emerge," stated Lt. DJ Tisdale. "These cases are not just wins on paper—they have real impact. Dismantling violent criminal networks and holding those involved accountable has an immediate effect on reducing violence in the communities we serve.  While the gang landscape continues to evolve, we are seeing concerning trends, including the involvement of younger individuals in violent acts.  In many cases, these acts are directly or indirectly tied to gang activity, whether through affiliation, influence, or recruitment.

"While gangs may attempt to rebrand or reorganize, our approach is proactive, intelligence-led, and persistent," he added. "Our members— local, state, and federal agencies—remain united in our mission to reduce violent crime and safeguard our communities."

The Crimes

The crimes noted in the FBP indictment: 

• - March 19, 2020, on South Vrain Street in Denver, targets were relatives of a rival gang member.
• - March 19, 2020, on West Florida Avenue in Lakewood, targets were members of, and relatives of members of, a rival street gang. The residence and multiple vehicles were struck by at least 26 bullets.
• - June 8, 2020, on West Gill Place in Denver, targeted three people who were not known to be members of a rival gang.
• - July 4, 2020, on South Stuart Street in Denver, targeted relatives of a rival criminal street gang member. The residence was struck by at least 21 bullets. Vehicle also damaged with gunfire. Baca took part in the incident.
• - July 6, 2020, on South Stuart Street in Denver, people standing in front of the residence were shot at; none were known gang members.
• - July 10, 2020, on Downing Street in Thornton, targeted relatives of a rival criminal street gang member. Residence hit 14 times.
• - August 2, 2020, on South Stuart Street near West Evans Avenue, targeted an associate of a rival street gang. Female on porch observed a Nissan Altima travelling slowly down the street and dove for cover.
• - January 18, 2021, on South Irving Street in Denver. The victim was not known to be a member, associate, or relative of any rival criminal street gang. Man made comment to someone putting graffiti on a fence. That person ran to a car with FBP members inside, who then fired at least seven shots at the man as he drove away.
• - January 23, 2021, on West Arizona Avenue in Denver. The victims were not known to be members, associates, or relatives of any rival criminal street gang. Residence hit by six bullets. Ramirez, a convicted felon, fired some of the rounds.
• - January 26, 2021, on South Zuni Street in Denver. The victims were not known to be members, associates, or relatives of any rival criminal street gang. Residence hit by at least 26 bullets.
• - January 27, 2021, on South Quieto Way in Denver. Targets members and relatives of a rival criminal street gang. Residence struck by 15 bullets.
• - January 30, 2021, on South Zenobia Street in Denver. At least one victim was identified as an associate of a rival criminal street gang. Residence hit 11 times, also vehicle in driveway, 31 shell casings from three different firearms found in the street.
• - March 19, 2021, on North Galapago Street in Denver. Three FBP members among a group walking in an alley. They fired rounds at a car that drove by slowly. 14 shell casings found at scene.

The incidents listed in the 2D$ indictment and press release: 

• January 22, 2021, West Alameda Avenue and South Raritan Street. A 45-year-old man, Paul Baca, Sr., was shot. He was driven to a hospital where he died. 2D$ members blamed for the murder. 
• October 31, 2021, on South Winona Court in Denver. Targeted a rival gang member, fired at least seven rounds into a garage, two people injured.
• October 31, 2021, on West Exposition Avenue in Denver. Three minutes later, fired at least 14 rounds into a residence and four vehicles. 
• November 10, 2021, on Quitman Street in Denver. Targeted a rival gang member. Fired at least 8 rounds into a residence, one struck the front window. 
• November 22, 2021, 2D$'s Ricardo Corchado and another person lured a victim to an apartment on East Dartmouth Avenue, beat the victim, take his wallet, cell phone and keys. They drove away in the victim's 2018 Kia Optima. 
• November 28, 2021, 302 South Sheridan Boulevard. Corchado and Ismael Roque, in the stolen Optima, fired at least six rounds at people inside another vehicle. Other vehicle was hit three times, one person shot in the knee. The ditched Optima was found two days later.
• January 10, 2022, on North Inca Street. Targeted the residence of rival gang member, three vehicles damaged by gunfire, 31 rounds found in the street, total damage more than $30,000.
• January 10, 2022, on South Yates Street. Targeted a member of a rival gang. Residence struck by at least 14 bullets, a vehicle damaged, 48 shells casings from three firearms found at scene.
• January 16, 2022, on South Java Street, Denver. Corchado, Roque and Ali Lozano steal a pickup truck from members of their own gang who were parked there. 
• January 16, 2022, 000 block of South Sheridan Blvd in Denver. Corchado, Espinoza and Roque, in the stolen pickup, target members of a rival gang in another vehicle. They fire at least a dozen shots, striking one person in the other vehicle in the hand and knee.
• January 17, 2022, on South Newton Street in Denver. Corchado, Espinoza and Brandon Santana, in the stolen pickup truck, shoot up the home of relatives of a rival gang member; 34 shell casings found. 
• January 17, 2022, on South Winona Court in Denver. Eleven minutes after the South Newton shooting, same three fire into a home whose occupants they believed to be associated with rival gang; 33 shell casings found.
• February 5, 2022, on South Xavier Street in Denver. Targeted known members or relatives of associates to a rival gang. Residence fired upon by three 2D$ members, 21 shell casings found at scene.
• February 5, 2022, on West Amherst Avenue in Denver. Targeted known members or relatives of associates of a rival gang. Eight minutes later, same three 2D$ members fire upon another residence blocks away; 42 shell casings found there.
• February 26, 2022, on North Oneida Street in Denver. A 2D$ gang member confronted Jesus Duran-Maldonado in the street. When the Duran-Maldonado punched the 2D$ member, Corchado responded by shooting Duran-Maldonado several times. Duran-Maldonado died of gunshot wounds.
• May 12, 2022, 4400 block of Tejon Street in Denver. Four 2D$ members in a car spray gunfire at five people they believed to be members or associates of a rival gang who were standing in Chaffee Park. Two of the five victims try to flee in a car but the 2D$ group disables it with gunfire; 44 shell casings found at the scene.
• May 14, 2022, on West 46th Avenue in Denver. Two 2D$ members, while driving in a car, fire into a car of rival gang members (and one person who was not a member); 32 shell casings found, two bullets hit a nearby house, another a parked car.
• May 14, 2022, 4545 Morrison Road in Denver. Targeted three people standing in the street whom 2D$ members believed were members of a rival gang. Rounds struck two residences containing people with no gang affiliations. 
• May 26, 2022, 88th Avenue in Thornton. 2D$'s Nevaeh Alvarado takes the pants, wallet, cell phone and keys of a male who passed out from alcohol consumption at a party. She took the male's car.
• May 28, 2022, 2800 block of Zuni Street in Denver. In the stolen car, Corchado and Espinoza pulled up behind a vehicle containing two members of a rival gang and opened fire. Christian Chirinos-Salazar suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head, and died. The other person was also shot in the head but survived; 56 shell casings found at the scene. The stolen car was ditched the next day.
• May 29, 2022, 100 block of Bryant Street in Denver. Targeted two rival gang members in another car while driving. One of the rival gang members was shot in the face. Another residence struck by gunfire as was a vehicle in a driveway.
• June 8, 2022, on East 12th Avenue in Denver. 2D$ members hold up rival gang members in a parking lot and steal their car. Car was recovered 13 days later.
• June 17, 2022, on Mariposa Street. Targeted an apartment occupied by relatives or associates of a rival gang member. Multiple rounds fired at the building from several vehicles. Several vehicles in the parking lot also hit; 104 shell casings found at the scene. 

The Prosecutions

The 10 FBP members already convicted and sentenced:

The 12 2D$ members already convicted and sentenced: 

Agencies involved in the investigation of both gangs included the Denver Police Department, the Denver Denver DA's Organized Crime Unit and its prosecutors, investigators and victim advocates, and the Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAVEN), a part of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.