DUBLIN — A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 months in jail for killing Mitchell Katz, the owner of a Livermore winery in his namesake.
Emilio Chambers Cruz was sentenced June 24, after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charge. Court records say on July 21, 2023, Chambers Cruz attempted to illegally pass Katz near Mitra Street and East Avenue in Livermore, while driving about 20 miles per hour faster than the speed limit, but hit a center divider and caused the collision.
Katz, who was not wearing a seatbelt, died at a hospital later that day, court records show. Chambers Cruz was later charged with a misdemeanor.
Before the sentencing, prosecutors and loved ones of both Chambers Cruz and Katz debated the defendant’s level of remorse. Katz’s widow wrote in a court filing that while Chambers Cruz returned to a loving family that night, “Mitch was sent to the morgue.”
Chambers Cruz’s significant other argued for no jail time, describing Chambers Cruz as the “sole provider” for her and their 3-year-old son.
“This is critical time in our child’s development, and losing that constant presence of a loving and involved father could cause emotional confusion, distress and delay in developmental progress,” Marilin Reynoso Gomez wrote in a support letter.
Katz started the winery in 1998 in part as a memorial to his grandfather, an avid home winemaker. The winery is known for its cabernet sauvignon — especially its flagship Fatboy Cabernet — as well as sangiovese and chardonnay varietals. Katz had earned several notable awards over the years, including a gold medal at the 2015 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for his 2011 Petite Sirah and silver medals for his Wesley’s Blend and 2011 Sangiovese.
Prosecutors argued that Chambers Cruz showed no remorse after the crash, pointing to Instagram posts where Chambers Cruz — a rapper and musician — posted lyrics saying “they put me on trial imma smile” and referencing getting cases dropped. He also celebrated avoiding jail in February 2024, writing on a post, “they ain’t saying ‘Free Mili’ today.”
But Chambers Cruz’s friend, Sterling-Gunner Montgomery, said the accident has “weigh heavily” on him.
“He has spoken with sorrow, reflection and compassion for the life that was lost. This moment has marked him deeply, and he is using it not as an excuse, but as turning point,” Montgomery wrote in a support letter. “A reason to be better, to go deeper, to lead stronger.”
The 10-month sentence started the same day it was pronounced. Chambers Cruz is still at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, with a Sept. 9 restitution hearing scheduled. Katz’s family estimates they spent at least $83,000 in medical bills alone, court records show.
Meanwhile, at the winery, Katz’s sons Jackson and Wesley are running the show. Both submitted letters to the court describing the pain and loss they felt and frustration with the legal process, which spanned nearly two years.
“His decision to run my Dad off the road was made in a handful of seconds, but the pain it caused will last my entire lifetime, my brother’s life and many other people as well,” Jackson Katz wrote. “We did not get to say goodbye to my Dad.”
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