A total of nine people were arrested near the city of Modesto, about 92 miles (68 km) east of San Francisco, on a string of charges related to the murder of 26-year-old Korey Kauffman, according to the Stanislaus County sheriff's office.

Criminal defense attorney Frank Carson, who last year made an unsuccessful run for Stanislaus County district attorney, was named as ringleader of the plot and charged with first degree murder, conspiracy and the special circumstance of lying in wait, which could qualify for the death penalty under California law.