Posted on 01/20/2010 2:42:23 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
A kidnapping ring is accused of taking its Rio Grande Valley victims to Mexico where they were tortured, held for ransom and in one case -- killed.
The trial for alleged kidnapping ring member Luis Alberto Avila-Hernandez started before U.S. District Court Judge Randy Crane in McAllen on Tuesday.
Several witnesses have testified against Avila-Hernandez, including the relatives of victims and his co-defendant Gerardo Zamora-Espinoza.
The Associated Press reported that Zamora-Espinoza testified that the kidnappings where committed on the behalf of the Mexican Gulf cartel's enforcers.
Zamora-Espinoza told jurors that the body of kidnapping victim Daniel Ramirez, Jr. was "cooked" on a ranch in Mexico.
Court records show that Ramirez was kidnapped from his Country Village Store outside off FM 88 and 13 Mile Line north of Weslaco in August 2008.
A criminal complaint filed against Avila-Hernandez shows that the kidnapping took place because Ramirez refused an offer to work with the Gulf Cartel.
Avila-Hernandez acted as lookout outside the store and helped drive Ramirez to a ranch in Mission where he was held before being taken to Mexico.
The Associated Press reported that Zamora-Espinoza's nephew ran the kidnapping ring.
Zamora-Espinzoa testified that his nephew told him they were "cooking the body" of Ramirez at a ranch in Mexico.
Ramirez was killed even his father had paid $40,000 out of a $100,000 dollars ransom.
But court documents obtained by Action 4 News show that Ramirez was not the only victim.
The group is also accused of kidnapping Antonio Gonzalez in August 2008 where they demanded $30,000 dollars and a vehicle for his release.
The ring also accused of kidnapping victims Sergio Cepeda and Adrian Treviño in September 2008.
The men were held at a home in Mission where one of the ring members hit Treviño's ankles and wrists with a hammer.
The kidnappers are accused of using a rilfe to hit Cepeda's genitals.
They held Cepeda for ransom for $40,000 dollars and two vehicles.
The group allegedly kidnapped Sergio Arturo Zepeda during an October 2008 home invasion where they stole cocaine and weapons.
Well they do offer a new way to handle illegal immigration: bar b que. Not sure I cotton to roasted Mexicans. Does this qualify as Mexican food?
Mmmm, taco wagon “specials”
Probably time we rolled the whole drug cartel and terrorism thing into one burrito.
perhaps they were filming “Eating Raoul” the sequel?
All terrorists are the same, be they Muslims, mafia or Mexican drug dealers.
At the moment and for several previous years, Mexico is the biggest threat to this country. Why have we done noting about it?
When a country’s leadership believes the country deserving of punishment for its sins against some perverted view of “Humanity” then that leadership is going to welcome the punishment of the nation from whatever “righteous” source so long as it does not diminish the wealth and privileges of the leadership class.
Thank you, arthurus. Unfortunately, I am not smart enough for that answer.
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
(Updated:) Guilty verdict returned in Gulf Cartel kidnapping case
January 21, 2010 1:35 PM
Jeremy Roebuck
The Monitor
McALLEN — One of the members of a Gulf Cartel kidnapping ring operating in Hidalgo County was convicted today on one count of kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping.(exerpted)
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/gulf-34623-bodytext-kidnapping.html
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