Posted on 04/04/2008 7:52:31 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Federal authorities have their sights set on high-ranking members of the Zetas working in Nuevo Laredo, as indicated by a 50-page indictment partially unsealed earlier this week.The indictment alleges a wide-ranging, drug-smuggling conspiracy that involved several murders, including one in which a defendant is accused of collecting the blood of his victim and making a toast to Santa Muerte before killing the man and burning his body.
Two of the 32 people listed in the 47-count indictment were in federal court Thursday. Only four names have been made public; the others are blacked out on the court records because they are still at large.
One of the unnamed defendants is described in the document as "a leader and organizer within the Gulf Cartel, a.k.a. ‘La Compañia' and its enforcement arm, the ‘Zetas.' "
Named in the indictment so far are Aurora Del Bosque, Gustavo Fabian Chapa, Rene "Rana" Garcia and Juan Adolfo Ramos, also known as "Cordless" and "Karate."
Del Bosque was denied bond Thursday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Adriana Arce-Flores. Del Bosque, the wife of a Zeta associate, faces one count of accessory after the fact.
Chapa, who is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, waived his arraignment Thursday.
Garcia is charged with money-laundering conspiracy, attempted murder, use of a juvenile to commit violent crime and use of a firearm in a crime of violence and a drug-trafficking crime Ramos is charged with money laundering conspiracy, two counts of use of a juvenile to commit a violent crime and one count of use of a firearm in a crime of violence or drug-trafficking crime.
He's also charged with murder in the April 2, 2006, killing of Jesus Maria Resendez and Mariano Resendez, the attempted murder of Marco Antonio "Mackie" Flores, the attempted murder of Michael David Lopez and the attempted murder of a person known only as "Checo."
All four, along with the 28 defendants whose names are redacted, are charged in a drug conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 1,000 kilos of marijuana, which the indictment alleges began in August 2001.
Aviles and Villarreal The indictment details several alleged drug-related murders, including the previously unreported deaths of Jorge Alfonso "Poncho" Aviles and Inez Villarreal.
Aviles and Villarreal were captured March 30, 2006, at a nightclub in Nuevo Laredo and taken to a safe house, according to the indictment.
After taking them to a second safe house, at least one of the as-yet-unnamed defendants cut and stabbed Aviles, then collected his blood and used it to make a toast to Santa Muerte before killing them and burning their bodies, the indictment states.
The indictment includes charges of money laundering, attempted murder, promoting unlawful activity, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
The indictment shows the alleged conspiracy also involved some of Laredo's most-publicized murders.
The killings in 2005 and 2006 of Bruno Alberto Juarez-Orozco, Moises "Moy" Garcia, Noe Flores and the Resendezes, all five of whom are mentioned in the indictment, were carried out by U.S.-born sicarios, hit men, who state investigators have said were operating in Laredo and killing on behalf of the Gulf Cartel.
Four defendants have pleaded guilty in state district court in connection with those killings, and one of those men is set to go to trial later this month for his alleged involvement in another killing.
State investigators have alleged that the killings are tied to Miguel "40" Treviño, a man they say is a chief enforcer for the Zetas.
Bruno Alberto Juarez Orozco The guilty plea of Gabriel Cardona for the June, 6 2005, murder of Bruno Alberto Juarez Orozco, a former Nuevo Laredo police officer, was the first conviction state prosecutors were able to secure in connection to what they have said were a wave of killings committed by cells of sicarios.
A police investigation showed that Orozco had been pulled over by men in a car with a flashing light, who Orozco believed were police, said Assistant District Attorney Jesse Guillen.
The sicarios were attempting to kidnap Orozco, according to the indictment. They ended up shooting him when he resisted, according to reports.
Cardona received a 60-year prison sentence for his part in the murder as part of a plea agreement in state district court in Webb County.
Richard Guerrero pleaded guilty to engaging in criminal activity in connection with Orozco's murder and received a 10-year prison sentence.
Wenceslao "Tucan" Tovar and Eric Ivan "47" Martinez have been charged with murder and are wanted in connection to Orozco's killing, Guillen said. Warrants have been issued for their arrest, he said.
Moises ‘Moy' Garcia The trial of Rosalio "Bart" Reta for the murder of Moises "Moy" Garcia is expected to begin in state district court April 28.
Reta is accused of shooting Garcia on Dec. 8, 2006, in the parking lot of the Torta-Mex restaurant on Corpus Christi Street.
Garcia was shot and killed after a sport utility vehicle blocked in Garcia's Lexus as he and his family were driving out of the restaurant parking lot. His common-law wife, Diana Loera, was injured in the shooting.
Aurora Del Bosque, the woman who was denied bond Thursday, is accused of aiding them and is charged with accessory after the fact in the federal indictment.
Gabriel Cardona pleaded guilty in state district court to murder in connection with Garcia's killing and, as part of a plea agreement on two other murders, received an 80-year prison sentence.
Cardona took part in the killing while free on bond after being arrested for the Orozco shooting, according to reports.
Noe Flores Noe Flores was killed in a botched hit on his half brother, Michael Lopez, according to testimony given in the aborted trial of Rosalio "Bart" Reta.
Both Reta and Gabriel Cardona have pleaded guilty to taking part in Flores' Jan. 8, 2006, murder outside Lopez's home on Frost Street. Reta received a 40-year prison sentence and Cardona was sentenced to 60-years in prison for his plea on the Flores and Orozco murders.
Warrants have been issued for Lucio "Viejon" Velez-Quintero and Jesus "Jesse" Gonzalez on murder charges for the Garcia and Flores killing, Guillen said. Authorities have said they believe Velez organized those hits.
Jesus Maria Resendez A police investigation showed that Jesus Maria Resendez was killed by the Zetas because of his involvement with the Sinaloa Cartel, Guillen said.
Resendez was a Texas Syndicate associate who had previously done business with the Gulf Cartel, but had switched his allegiance, Guillen said.
He and his nephew, Mariano Resendez, were killed April 2, 2006, when their truck was riddled with gunfire on U.S. 83.
Gabriel Cardona received an 80-year prison sentence when he pleaded guilty to those killings and the Garcia murder.
Raul "Richard" Jasso pleaded guilty to two counts of murder for the Resendezes' killings and received a 15-year prison sentence.
A police investigation has traced all five murders back to Miguel "40" Treviño, and warrants have been issued for his arrest, Guillen said.
(Jason Buch may be reached at 728-2547 or by e-mail at jbuch@lmtonline.com)
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
And to think that she's a registered Republican!
Wrong Zeta, but thanks for posting the pic, gator!
That’s what I thought when I saw the headline.
Folks, please include clues to location in your headlines!
Affectionately called Zits, T_ts and Armpits by the frat guys at my alma mater.
Ping!
Laredo Times isn’t clue enough for you?
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