Thirty-five leaders, members, and associates of Barrio Azteca,Three remain at large, Jose Antonio Acosta Hernandez, aka “Diego”; Luis Mendez, aka “Alex” and Eduardo Ravelo, aka “Tablas”, who is currently one of the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives.

Thirty-five leaders, members, and associates of Barrio Azteca, one of the most brutal gangs operating along the U.S.-Mexico border, have been charged in a federal indictment in Texas with various counts of racketeering, murder, drug offenses, money laundering, and obstruction of justice.

Of the 35 subjects, 10 Mexican nationals were specifically charged with the March 2010 murders in Juarez, Mexico of a U.S. Consulate employee and her husband, along with the husband of another consulate employee.

Seven of the 10 charged with the U.S. Consulate murders and two other indicted defendants are in custody in Mexico.  Three remain at large, Jose Antonio Acosta Hernandez, aka “Diego”; Luis Mendez, aka “Alex” and Eduardo Ravelo, aka “Tablas”, who is currently one of the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives.  They are offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading directly to his arrest.

Originally a prison gang the Barrio Azteca began in the late 1980s.  Today they are a transnational criminal organization with approximately 3500 members, including 600 active members located in West Texas and Juarez, Mexico.  Barrio Azteca gang members can still be found throughout state and federal prisons in the U.S. and Mexico.  They are known to engage in criminal activities both inside and outside of prison walls.  The gang has a militaristic command structure and includes captains, lieutenants, sergeants, and soldiers; all with the purpose of maintaining power and enriching its members and associates.  Their activities have included murder, assault, threats of violence, extortion, money laundering, witness intimidation, illegal firearms possession, alien smuggling, and drug trafficking; on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

According to the indictment, the Barrio Azteca formed an alliance with the Vicente Carrillo-Fuentes (VCF) drug trafficking organization in Mexico, conducting enforcement operations against VCF rivals and receiving “discounts” on illegal drugs from the VCF.

You Might Also Like :