Inmates at USP Big Sandy Convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon

LONDON, Ky. –  Eric “Big E” Flores, 38, of San Angelo, Texas, and Salomon Martinez, 44, of Eagle Pass, Texas, were convicted by a federal jury yesterday of Assault of a Federal Inmate with a Dangerous Weapon.

The proof at trial established that the Defendants were members of the MEXIKANEMI, Texas Mexican Mafia, and participated in the assault of an Arizona Mexican Mafia member.  On June 17, 2018, within United States Penitentiary (USP) Big Sandy, in Inez, Kentucky, the Defendants repeatedly stabbed the victim, in his back, leg, and arm, with shanks.  In addition to multiple stab wounds, the victim also sustained a fractured left scapula.

Two co-defendants, Rodney “Joker” Galindo, 38, of Odessa, Texas, and Michael “Taz” Morin, 52, of Austin, Texas, fellow MEXIKANEMI members, pled guilty in March to the attempted murder of another Arizona Mexican Mafia member.  The second victim suffered a hematoma in the right frontal lobe, depressed skull fracture, midline shift, and extra-axial hemorrhages.  The two assaults happened simultaneously, within a cell block, on June 17, 2018.        

Galindo and Morin face up to twenty-five years in prison.  Flores and Martinez face up to ten years in prison. 

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Hector Joyner, Warden of USP Big Sandy, jointly made the announcement.  The investigation was conducted by the USP Big Sandy Special Investigative Services Office.  The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Jenna E. Reed.