Mexico's most wanted man charged in El Paso

Prosecutors in El Paso have indicted Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman Loera and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada on racketeering charges. Prosecutors in El Paso have indicted Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman Loera and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada on racketeering charges. Photo: Courtesy Photo Photo: Courtesy Photo Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close Mexico's most wanted man charged in El Paso 1 / 32 Back to Gallery

Federal prosecutors in El Paso have indicted Mexico's most-wanted man, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, accusing him of controlling an organization that, along with drug trafficking and violence in that country, killed two U.S. citizens, including one kidnapped in Texas and taken across the border.

The 14-count indictment levels racketeering charges against Guzmán, 57, head of Mexico's notorious Sinaloa cartel, his top capo and 22 others, including various lieutenants, among them former Mexican police officers. They are all fugitives.

It accuses him of running a drug-smuggling enterprise since 2000, shortly before he escaped from a Mexican prison. The indictment focuses on the period since 2008 when the cartel launched an assault on turf controlled by the Juárez cartel, killing thousands.

The indictment tells a story of shifting alliances and a brazen and brutal kidnapping that began north of the Rio Grande.

“Murder, kidnapping, money laundering and drug trafficking are the four corners of this organization's foundation,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman. “For years, their violence, ruthlessness and complete disregard for human life and the rule of law have greatly impacted the citizens of the Republic of Mexico and the United States. They must be held accountable for their criminal actions.”

The charges against Guzmán follow previous indictments in at least six states — including Texas, where he already faced drug-trafficking charges in Del Rio.

But the new indictment provides a window into his organization's bloody struggle to control lucrative drug-trafficking lanes along the border and other parts of northern Mexico.

It also could serve to ratchet up the pressure on Guzmán, who's been a fugitive since his 2001 escape from a Mexican prison, said Mike Vigil, former chief of international operations for DEA.

“What happens when these indictments come out and there's political pressure brought to bear on individuals like Chapo Guzmán, they start to make mistakes,” Vigil said. “And it makes it very difficult for them to run their organizations while they're on the run.”

But despite a $5 million reward offered by the U.S. State Department and one of about $2 million from the Mexican government for information leading to his capture, Guzmán, whose cartel is based in the Pacific coast state it's named after, has avoided capture.

He's notorious not only for his prison escape, but also for claims that he corrupted high-level members of the Mexican government and for a botched 1993 attempt on his life that killed a Catholic cardinal. More recently, Mexican media have reported, Guzmán abandoned a seaside mansion in Baja California days ahead of a raid by government agents. In recent weeks, banners hung in Nuevo Laredo announced he's launched an offensive there.

Guzmán has cultivated a Robin Hood image, Vigil said, giving money and gifts to people in the areas where he hides.

More Information The suspects • Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán — Alleged head of the Sinaloa Cartel, supplies money and weapons to his allies in Ciudad Juárez • Ismael “Mayo” Zambada Garcia — “Co-leader” of the Sinaloa Cartel, allegedly smuggled thousands of pounds marijuana and cocaine into the U.S. • German “Paisa” (Last Name Unknown) — Allegedly one of Zambada's top lieutenants • Mario “Mayito” Nunez Meza — Former municipal police officer, allegedly worked for the Juárez Cartel, then the Sinaloa, then broke off to form his own group • Amado “Flaco” Nunez Meza — Allegedly followed his brother Mario's shifting alliances • Jose Antonio “Jaguar” Torres — Alleged founder of the Gente Nueva enforcer group that joined the Sinaloa Cartel, allegedly oversaw kidnappings and killings on both sides of the border • Gabino “El Ingeniero” Salas Valenciano — Alleged member of Gente Nueva who oversees the Valle de Juárez, a rural area on the border with Texas • Sergio “Coma” Garduno Escobedo — Former commander in the Chihuahua state police, allegedly a top lieutenant for the Sinaloa Cartel in Juárez, marks his drug loads with the logo of popular Mexican cartoon character Memin Penguin • David “Christian” Sanchez Hernandez — Former Juárez police officer, allegedly one of the cartel's largest drug distributors • Ivan Sanchez-Hernandez — Former Juárez cop, like his brother David, allegedly oversees transfers of drugs and guns • Jesus Rodrigo “Huichi” Fierro-Ramirez — Former Chihuahua state police officer and alleged cocaine distributor known for extreme violence • Arturo “Garza” Lozano-Mendez — Former Juárez police officer, allegedly oversees drug warehouses in the border city • Mario “Flaco” De La O Lopez — Former Chihuahua state police officer and alleged cocaine distributor whose methods for packing the drugs are sought by rival Juárez and Sinaloa cartels • Arturo “Chous” Shows Urquidi — Alleged trafficker • Salvador “Robles” Valdez — Alleged cocaine distributor • Daniel “Micha” Franco Lopez — Alleged right-hand man to Torres, the trafficker accused of ordering a kidnapping in Texas • Luis “Helio” Arellano-Romero — Torres' alleged personal bodyguard • Fernando “Rayo” Arellano-Romero — Former Chihuahua state police homicide detective and alleged assassin for Torres • Mario Alberto “El 2” Iglesias-Villegas — Alleged sicario, or assassin, for Torres • Adrian “Bam Bam” Avila-Ramirez — Alleged sicario who also oversees cocaine shipments that land on Mexico's Gulf coast • Valentin “El Valle” Saenz De La Cruz — Alleged cocaine trafficker • Emigdio “Millo” Martinez Jr. — Alleged marijuana and cocaine trafficker • Carlos “Buffalo” Flores — Alleged trafficker and head of an assassin squad • Jose “Toca” (Last Name Unknown) — Former Mexican municipal cop, allegedly in charge of an assassin squad On the Web • News release from the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas • The indictment charging Guzmán, a top capo and 22 others on racketeering charges

But despite that reputation, court documents allege that in 2007 and 2008 he began recruiting independent traffickers and members of the Juárez Cartel and launched an offensive in that border city and nearby regions. The conflict continues today and, according to some counts, has cost as many as 10,000 lives in Ciudad Juárez.

According to the indictment, one of the most violent additions to the Sinaloa cartel was Jose Antonio Torres Marrufo, an independent trafficker who formed a group called the Gente Nueva, or New People, at the outset of the Juárez cartel war. Torres and his compatriots approached Guzmán and his right-hand man, Ismael “Mayo” Zambada, asking to join them, and the Gente Nueva became one of the cartel's more feared enforcement arms.

In September 2009, the indictment alleges, Torres ordered the kidnapping of Sergio Saucedo, a trafficker who'd lost 670 pounds of marijuana, in Horizon City, near El Paso. According to records in a related trial, gunmen burst into Saucedo's home, bound and gagged him and his wife, forced him into an SUV and drove him to Mexico. Saucedo, a U.S. citizen, was tortured, his hands were cut off and he was strangled.

Torres also ordered the kidnapping of a groom and members of his wedding party, among them a U.S. citizen from New Mexico, in May 2010 in Juárez, according to the indictment. One person was killed during the kidnapping attempt and three were found days later, tortured and slain, in the bed of a pickup. Torres is one of two defendants in custody in Mexico.

jbuch@express-news.net