A convicted assassin often known as “Diablo” is strolling free after a federal choose tossed the case in opposition to him — even after Los Angeles taxpayers paid him $58,156 to work as a taxpayer-funded “Peace Ambassador.”
Michael Angel Alvarez, 41, was ordered launched Wednesday after US District Choose Anne Hwang, a Democrat appointed by former President Joe Biden, dismissed the federal indictment in opposition to him.
Hwang dominated that Alvarez’s 2002 homicide conviction not certified as a felony beneath California’s Proposition 57.
Alvarez was 15 years outdated when he was convicted of first-degree homicide.
He was sentenced to 50 years to life and in the end served 24 years behind bars.
Now that homicide conviction can not present the felony standing prosecutors wanted for the federal body-armor case.
The US Legal professional’s Workplace delivered a blistering evaluation of the end result.
“Alvarez is a convicted assassin and a documented member of the 18th Road gang … he has no professional function serving as a ‘peace ambassador’ in a public park or receiving taxpayer-funded compensation,” the workplace mentioned Wednesday. “These information usually are not in dispute. It’s unlucky that he now advantages from a California legislation that successfully permits him to erase his homicide conviction, one thing his sufferer can not do.”
The taxpayer-funded connection makes the case much more hanging.
After jail, Alvarez went to work for Therapeutic City Barrios, a nonprofit contracted by Los Angeles to offer Peace Ambassador providers within the First Metropolis Council District, which incorporates MacArthur Park.
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The town agreed to place $450,000 from its normal fund towards this system between June 2024 and Could 2027.
Alvarez personally obtained $58,156 in 2025.
Federal authorities alleged Alvarez was dwelling a double life — presenting himself as a violence-prevention employee whereas remaining concerned with the 18th Road gang.
Investigators cited jailhouse calls through which Alvarez allegedly mentioned assaulting individuals who broke gang guidelines.
After which police discovered physique armor.
On Could 18, officers close to MacArthur Park detained Alvarez after believing he could be a wished individual.
A search of his car uncovered two physique armor plates within the trunk.
The plates had been marketed as “the best safety stage obtainable on the civilian market,” in line with the federal affidavit.
Alvarez was charged with possession of physique armor by a violent felon.
He additionally had an April 2025 felony conviction for being a prisoner in possession of a weapon.
First Assistant US Legal professional Invoice Essayli tore into the taxpayer-funded association after Alvarez’s arrest.
“The hardworking tax payers of Los Angeles deserve higher than to see their cash shelled out to a convicted gang assassin,” Essayli mentioned in Could.
The Peace Ambassador program was supposed to make use of employees with expertise within the justice or gang techniques to assist forestall violence and intervene in crises.
Federal authorities alleged Alvarez was as a substitute sustaining gang ties whereas amassing a public paycheck.
The case is dismissed, and Alvarez has been launched.
