Press Release
Final Barrio Azteca Member in El Paso Sentenced to Federal Prison on RICO, Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Charges
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas
In El Paso today, 40-year-old Barrio Azteca member Roberto Meza was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for his role in a racketeering enterprise. Meza was the 17th and final defendant to be sentenced to federal prison as a result of this investigation.
That announcement was made today by United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist, and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Waldemar Rodriguez.
On August 21, 2015, Meza pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) statute, one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and one count of money laundering.
According to court records, from August 1, 2010, to September 10, 2014, the members of this organization conducted their affairs through a pattern of racketeering to include murder, attempted murder, extortion, assault, and drug trafficking.
Other defendants sentenced in this investigation include:
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Juan Pablo Espino, age 38 – sentenced to 299 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy and money laundering charges;
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Fernando Madrid, age 42 – sentenced to 110 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy charge;
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Raul Lopez, age 35 – sentenced to 120 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy charge;
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Manuel Minjares, age 55 -- sentenced to 300 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy charge;
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Eugene Lozano, age 44 – sentenced to 120 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to RICO conspiracy charge;
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Rigoberto Alvarado-Mendez, age 42 – sentenced to 90 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge;
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Gabriel Aldana, age 44 – sentenced to 90 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge;
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Richard Rene Espino, age 35 – sentenced to 120 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge;
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Christopher Ytuarte, age 42 – sentenced to 120 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to the RICO conspiracy and money laundering charges;
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Rito Miguel Alvarez, age 37– sentenced to 240 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge;
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Ramon Sanchez, age 49 – sentenced to 120 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge;
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Hector Bernal, age 46 – sentenced to 110 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge;
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Jose Angel Barrios, age 45 – sentenced to 240 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to the RICO conspiracy and Murder in Aid of Racketeering charges;
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Eddie Mendoza, age 32 – sentenced to 110 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guity to the RICO conspiracy charge;
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Barbara Rodriguez, age 36 – sentenced to one year imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the RICO conspiracy and drug distribution conspiracy charges; and,
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Juan Carlos Nunez, age 24 – sentenced to 60 months imprisonment; fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge.
“As a result of these sentencings, the Barrio Azteca criminal enterprise was held accountable for three gang related murders and the principal Barrio Azteca leaders were removed from the streets of El Paso. The FBI will continue to investigate criminal enterprise groups in the El Paso Area of Responsibility to maintain safety in the community,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist.
Waldemar Rodriguez, Special Agent in Charge of HSI El Paso, said, “This case exemplifies the effectiveness of law enforcement joining forces to protect our community from violent gangs. This sentence makes clear that HSI will not allow thugs, who think they are above the law, to rule our streets. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the community at large to bring criminals to justice.”
This case resulted from an investigation led by the FBI El Paso - Safe Streets Gang Task Force, and the El Paso Police Department, with significant assistance by the El Paso Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and several other law enforcement agencies.
Updated March 10, 2016
Topic
Violent Crime
Component