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Showing posts with the label Barrio Azteca

Barrio Azteca Members are said to have been bringing large amounts of cocaine and marijuana into the United States

Barrio Azteca Members are said to have been bringing large amounts of cocaine and marijuana into the United States, crossing it in from Ciudad Juarez. The only thing more surprising than their 3,000 members is the way the gang is organized. "They have structure, they have different ranks. They have different command levels. They have the people that give the orders, and then they have the people that carry out the orders" said Robert Almonte, Executive Director, Texas Narcotic Officers Association. With titles, such as sergeant and lieutenant it was the arrest of the ring's alleged leader, Jaime Velasco-the so called boss-that may make the most impact in bringing an end to the gang. According to a federal court affidavit Velasco would cross shipments over the bridges, and supply the drugs to alleged distributors, Gualberto Marquez and Raul Cabral. The drugs would then allegedly be sent to lieutenant Jose Montes. Like a well trained army, there is a unique form of com...

Barrio Azteca prison gang RICO, was used to prosecute six leaders and associates

Carlos "Shotgun" Perea, Manuel "Tolon" Cardoza, Benjamin "T-Top" Alvarez, Eugene "Gino" Mona, and Said "Shorty" Herrera face life sentences for their convictions of violations of the RICO statute. Federal law created to bring down the Mafia in 1970 now has been used to lock up leaders of a powerful El Paso-based prison gang after a month-long trial that ended Tuesday with several convictions. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, was used to prosecute six leaders and associates of the Barrio Azteca prison gang. A jury in U.S. District Court found the men guilty of most of the crimes they were charged with.Sentencing for the gang leaders, who face up to life in federal prison, is set for Feb. 24.Law enforcement officials said gangs are the perfect example of organized crime, particularly when the gangs have leadership structures rules, and plan and commit crimes."RICO isn't used that often, but it...