Attorney General Eric Holder Charges Gang Members in Juarez Consulate Murders

March 9, 2011 -- Ten members of a brutal, cross-border gang have been charged with the murders of three people, including a U.S. consulate worker in Juarez, Mexico, according to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

The charges come in a broad federal indictment announced today that ties 35 members of the violent Barrio Azteca (BA) gang to a range of criminal activities since 2003: drug trafficking, extortion, money laundering, kidnapping and several murders, in addition to the March 13, 2010, consulate murders in Juarez.

The Justice Department says the BA gang is based in West Texas and Juarez – and today's indictment alleges that to increase its power and influence, the BA formed an alliance with the Vicente Carrillo-Fuentes (VCF) drug trafficking organization in Mexico. As part of this alliance, the BA allegedly conducts enforcement operations against VCF rivals, and the VCF provides illegal drugs to the BA at discounted prices.

"Barrio Azteca Gang members are cold blooded criminals who show no respect for the law or justice, murdering innocent victims, trafficking drugs and inciting violence," said Drug Enforcement Administration head Michele Leonhart at a news conference announcing the indictments. Seven of the ten suspects in the consulate murders are in custody. Three are still at large.

The murders shocked Southwest border communities. In March of 2010, two U.S. citizens -- a married couple -- were gunned down in their car near city hall in Juarez, Mexico after they left a children's birthday party. Another man, a Mexican citizen, was murdered the same day in another attack in Juarez. The two nearly simultaneous attacks left three adults dead and at least two children wounded.

The Americans killed were Arthur H. Redelfs, 34, and his wife, Lesley A. Enriquez, 35, a consulate employee who was four months pregnant. They had just driven off from the children's birthday party when they were chased down and pulled over by gunmen who opened fire on the car. Police said their 7-month-old daughter watched the slayings from a car seat in the back. Police found her wailing, her parents dead from gunshots.

Brutal Gang Cited in 2010 Juarez Consulate Murders

"The indictment unsealed today offers a chilling picture of a highly organized and extremely brutal gang," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer at the news conference. "The victims – like so many other victims of the Mexican drug wars – were senselessly caught in the crosshairs of a violent criminal enterprise."

In addition to the consulate murders, the indictment alleges a string of other homicides. In December 2006, a BA member allegedly shot and killed Jose Luis Oviedo in El Paso. In 2007, BA members allegedly kidnapped a man in El Paso and took him across the U.S./Mexico border to Juarez. In March 2008, the BA allegedly ordered the murder of BA member David Merez, who was killed that same month in Juarez. The indictment also alleges that the BA caused two persons to be shot and killed in Socorro, Texas, on July 2, 2009. In August 2010, the indictment alleges that BA members kidnapped the wife and parents of a BA member whom they believed was cooperating with U.S. law enforcement, and killed the BA member's stepdaughter.

The Barrio Azteca is one of the most notorious gangs in the country, started back in the 1980s among federal prisoners, law enforcement officials say. According to today's indictment, the BA profits by importing heroin, cocaine and marijuana into the United States from Mexico. The indictment points to specific smuggling operations where 8 kilos of heroin, more than 100 kilograms of cocaine, and nearly 300 pounds of marijuana were brought into the U.S. from Mexico.

The indictment also alleges that BA members charge a "street tax" or "cuota" on businesses and criminals operating in their turf. These profits are used to support BA members in prison by funneling money into prison commissary accounts of gang leaders and to pay for defense lawyers or fines. The "cuota" profits are also allegedly reinvested into the organization to purchase drugs, guns and ammunition.