Mexican Mafia trial involving death of cop leading 'double life' wraps up

Jesse “Jay” Santibanez faces up to life in prison for racketeering-related murder and gun charges in the death of a Balcones Heights police officer. Jesse “Jay” Santibanez faces up to life in prison for racketeering-related murder and gun charges in the death of a Balcones Heights police officer. Photo: Bexar County Sheriff's Office Photo: Bexar County Sheriff's Office Image 1 of / 26 Caption Close Mexican Mafia trial involving death of cop leading 'double life' wraps up 1 / 26 Back to Gallery

Testimony wrapped up Friday in the trial of two Texas Mexican Mafia members accused of gunning down Balcones Heights police officer Julian Pesina.

U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez scheduled closing arguments for Monday in the case of Jesse “Jay” Santibanez and Alfredo “Freddy Low” Cardona. The pair face up to life in prison for racketeering-related murder and gun charges in the death of Pesina, who was ambushed May 4, 2014, outside Notorious Ink, the tattoo shop he co-owned.

In Friday’s testimony, forensics witnesses testified that tests showed gunshot residue was on the driver’s side and on the inside of the passenger door of Cardona’s vehicle when he was arrested later.

“It could have been near a weapon fired or something else that came in contact with GSR (gunshot residue),” Christina Vachon, a forensic scientist with Bexar County Crime Lab, testified under cross examination by one of Cardona’s lawyers, Chris Griffith.

The pair’s former co-defendant, Jerry “Spoooks” Idrogo, testified this week that he drove Cardona’s white Pontiac Sunfire, dropped off Santibanez and Cardona — both armed — on the side of the tattoo shop and that Idrogo sat in the car talking to Pesina when the pair came out and shot Pesina, who was next to the driver’s side of the car. Idrogo also said the shooters then jumped in the passenger side and he sped away.

The defense rested its case without calling any witnesses, instead opting to try to poke holes in the prosecution’s evidence and questioning the credibility of Idrogo and another star witness, Cardona’s ex-girlfriend.

According to other testimony, Pesina led a double life, dealing drugs while he was a cop. Idrogo testified that Pesina fooled his gang into believing Pesina was a member, until a drug dealer outed him and leaders ordered him killed.

gcontreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland