Accused Las Palillos crew killer to face death penalty

By Dana Littlefield
Friday, December 3, 2010 at 5:51 p.m.

SAN DIEGO — Prosecutors announced Friday that they will seek the death penalty for one of several men charged with committing crimes on behalf of Los Palillos, which has been described as a drug trafficking-and-murder crew in San Diego County.

Jorge Rojas Lopez, 31, has pleaded not guilty to a list of felony charges including murder and kidnapping for ransom. He already has a kidnapping conviction, stemming from a June 2008 raid on a Chula Vista home where a wealthy businessman was held for eight days.

Rojas was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Prosecutors have said Rojas was the leader of Los Palillos, Spanish for “the toothpicks,â€