Posted on 04/22/2008 7:31:08 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
EDINBURG — Jose Guadalupe Garcia predicted his death weeks before sheriff’s deputies found him shot and mutilated in an orchard northwest of Alton.
The 36-year-old former Mexican judicial officer and gang member told family members he had been offered a promotion within his criminal organization, but he wanted out, Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said Monday.
And in the Partido Revolucionario Mexicano, a violent and secretive prison gang also known as Los Barrachos de Villa, that decision could only mean one thing.
“Blood in, blood out,” Treviño said. “The motive is very traditional for these types of gangs. To join you have to spill someone’s blood; to leave you have to have your own blood spilled.”
Investigators found Garcia’s body April 8, nearly three weeks after a group of five men kidnapped him from his home west of Alton.
On Monday, the sheriff announced six of his fellow gang members and a seventh unaffiliated man had all been arrested and charged with his murder. Two more remain at large.
All are believed to be foot soldiers in the PRM — a group authorities say is dangerous and growing in the Rio Grande Valley.
“The PRM is about 120 strong in Hidalgo County,” Treviño said. “This is the only criminal gang operating (here) whose majority of members are criminal illegal immigrants.”
Cell phone records
Investigators knew little about the PRM on March 21 — the day Garcia was taken by force from his home near 5 Mile Line and Brushline roads. While there, his attackers also stabbed another man several times in the head, but he survived the attack.
When Garcia’s body was found unclothed and without its lower half three weeks later, authorities had already identified several of the PRM members they believed involved in Garcia’s disappearance.
Deputies tracked the men through cell phone records and calls placed to Garcia’s home, the sheriff said. Several of the men allegedly called and threatened Garcia after he turned down his promotion.
All seven of the suspects were detained and charged last week. But authorities held off on announcing the arrests in hopes of locating the two at large — Adan Perales, 27, and Julian Gallardo Balderas, 27, both Mexican nationals — before they might flee.
“They know that they’re wanted now,” Treviño said. “We’ve been knocking on doors for days.”The detained men include Victor Hugo Puente Moreno, 35; Diego Armando Peña, 18; Jose Osvoldo Teran, 18; Olegario Uresti, 26; Eduardo Alberto Flores Jr., 17; and Josue Cordova, 18. Tomas Soria, 17, was also arrested and charged but claimed no gang affiliation, according to deputies.
Stealth operation
All those arrested in the case previously been arrested on felony charges and more than half were already in the Hidalgo County jail on lesser charges.
But unlike most gang members, who immediately identify themselves to authorities so they can be placed in segregated holding cells away from rival groups, PRM members keep their affiliations quiet until they reach the state prison system. This is part of the reason little remains known about the group, the sheriff said.Deputies were only able to link the six known gang members to the PRM by checking their names against Texas Department of Criminal Justice records.
“These are not high-ranking members of the group,” he said. “We still don’t know about their command structure, but we’re learning more about them every day.”
The seven men arrested last week face charges of capital murder and attempted capital murder for the attack on Garcia’s roommate. They all remain in the Hidalgo County jail on $1.1 million bonds.
Authorities urge anyone with information on the remaining suspects’ locations to contact the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office at (956) 383-8114.
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Jeremy Roebuck covers courts and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4437.
PRM Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
“The PRM is about 120 strong in Hidalgo County,” Treviño said. “This is the only criminal gang operating (here) whose majority of members are criminal illegal immigrants.”
Family values don’t stop at the Rio Grande.
Move on.
....which hopefully has orders to shoot any gang member on sight...
...which by the way, is the ONLY way that the gangs can be controlled. "Prosecuting and putting them in jail" has not ever, is not now, and never will be any kind of deterrent to these people. It must be pointed out to these fine youts that there are dire consequences in joining a violent gang.
A dead gang member is a good gang member.....
Wholeheartedly agree, kind sir...
Saw a History Channel segment a few days ago about the crime era of the 20’s - 30’s. Particular part about one of the more notorious, (I forget if it was Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd or another) gang members walked up to a house and asked the lady for a meal. Being depression time, she accommodated his request. As the gangster was leaving, the law drove up. Gangster ran and was shot in the back by the lawmen. Law enforcement officers then went to the body and administered the coup de grace. NO MIRANDA Rights. Just a .45 to the head.
Same with Bonny and Clyde. Kill ‘em. Time we remember history, and let it repeat. Career criminal? Only until we kill you.
Ping!
Violent gangs have spread throughout Virginia and to small communities. The members are immigrants and illegal aliens, mainly Hispanic but also some from Asia.
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