Federal grand jury indicts 25 prison gang members

LAS CRUCES – Twenty-five members and associates of a notorious New Mexico prison gang, Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico, have been charged in two federal racketeering indictments that allege members carried out an onslaught of violent crimes, including murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to distribute drugs and firearms.

A federal grand jury in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque returned the indictments, which were filed Tuesday and unsealed Thursday, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico, or the New Mexico Syndicate, formed after the 1980 prison riot at the Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe County, the indictments state. During the riot, 33 inmates were killed, more than 200 were injured and 12 correctional officers were taken hostage — many of them assaulted and raped by inmates.

Since its formation, the gang has expanded throughout New Mexico’s penal system and has had up to 500 members. Members are believed to communicate orders within and outside of prisons through various means, including secret notes called “kites” or “welas” and coded letters. Members are expected to remain to loyal to the gang even after they complete prison sentences to "further" the gang's goal "outside of the prison environment," the indictments state.

The indictments allege the gang seeks to control and profit from drug trafficking within and outside the prison system. Federal prosecutors also allege that the gang intimidates and engages in violence with other gangs for the purpose of expanding its network of illegal activities. The gang, according to one indictment, "continues to be engaged in a fierce and violent war with rival gangs," including the Barrio Azteca, Los Carnales, Sureños and Burqeños.

The indictments name eight leaders of the gang, including Mario “Blue” Rodriguez, 30, of Silver City. Jerry Montoya, 35, of Albuquerque, and Jerry Armenta, 35, of Merced, California, also were named as members who participated in the gang’s “unlawful” activities.

Last year, Rodriguez, Montoya and Armenta – all inmates at the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility – were indicted by a Doña Ana County grand jury on charges related to the murder of fellow inmate Javier Enrique Molina, 34, of Las Cruces.

Last month, in anticipation of the federal indictments, the 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office dismissed the state charges against Rodriguez, Montoya and Armenta.

The first indictment charges 24 gang members and associates with committing four murders, conspiring to commit three murders and conspiring to commit a violent assault. The indictment includes the dates and counties where the crimes were committed, but only the initials of the victims, and does not specify whether they happened inside or outside of a prison. The four murders were committed in Doña Ana County.

The crimes included:

the murders of F.C. and R.G. on March 26, 2001, in Doña Ana County

the murder of F.S. on June 17, 2007, in Doña Ana County

conspiracy and murder of Molina on March 7, 2014, in Doña Ana County

conspiracy to assault J.R. in 2003 in Doña Ana County

and conspiracies to murder D.S. and G.M. in Santa Fe County.

The second indictment charges four gang members and associates, including three charged in the first indictment, with conspiring to commit two murders and committing two violent assaults.

Several of New Mexico’s top law enforcement officials announced the indictments Thursday in Albuquerque.

“The results of this investigation demonstrate the resolve of the law enforcement community in New Mexico to work together to make our communities safer and better places to live, work and raise families,” U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez said in a statement.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, 23 defendants, including 13 who were in state custody and one who was in Tennessee, were arrested on Thursday. Two defendants — Angel DeLeon, 38, and Arturo Arnulfo Garcia, 48 — have yet to be arrested and are considered fugitives.

On Friday, the defendants arrested in New Mexico made their initial appearances in federal court in Albuquerque, the release said. All remain in federal custody pending arraignment and detention hearings, which will be scheduled for next week.

More than 500 federal, state, county and local law enforcement and corrections officers were involved in Thursday’s operation, the release said. Additionally, 12 federal warrants were executed, three prisons in New Mexico were placed on lockdown, and more than 50 probation and parole searches were conducted throughout the state.

“The citizens of New Mexico are safer today because of the collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies,” New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas said in a statement. “When law enforcement agencies combine resources and assets, we are able to prevent violent crimes.”

Carlos Andres López can be reached 575-541-5453 or carlopez@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @carlopez_los.