Arizona Man Convicted in California for Multiple Murders Related to Drug Business Takeover

PHOENIX – A man with ties to Arizona has been convicted in California for his role in multiple murders. Raul Gastellum Flores, aged 33 and originally from Phoenix, faced a jury trial that resulted in four counts of first-degree murder, as well as “special circumstances” charges related to the commission of robbery and multiple homicides. According to Cron, Israels & Stark law firm’s website based in Los Angeles, special circumstance murders involve aggravating factors leading to more severe penalties for convicted offenders.
Flores was accused of killing four men as part of an attempt to take over a drug business. Fernando Meza, Antonio Medina, and Edgar Berrelleza were found dead inside a burned-out SUV in Orange on November 9th, 2015. All three victims had been shot multiple times, with Meza also suffering from stab wounds. Joel Berrelleza, the brother of one of the murdered men (Edgar), was abducted and later killed by Flores and an accomplice named Rosario Adan Roman-Lopez while being driven around in a Pontiac vehicle as they recorded his final breaths on their cell phone. The body of Joel Berrelleza remained inside his car for six days before it was discovered, abandoned in Fontana following the intervention of a passerby who reported seeing someone sleeping there for several consecutive days.
Flores travelled from Phoenix to Orange County with multiple handguns and AK-47 rifles at Roman-Lopez’ request, intending to steal tens of thousands of dollars from Joel Berrelleza’ brothers if they refused to pay up voluntarily. It is believed that the latter was murdered in Mexico as a form of retribution for his involvement in these heinous crimes; Roman-Lopez himself has not been found since then, and it remains unclear whether or not he survived this act of vengeance.
Flores now faces life imprisonment without parole when sentenced on July 19th, 2024. (This article was written from Phoenix.)