Thread: Mexican Cartel Kidnaps U.S. Citizen in Texas, Sneaks Him Across Border Into Mexico

Mexican Cartel Kidnaps U.S. Citizen in Texas, Sneaks Him Across Border Into Mexico


Shadi Rahimi / Twitter

by ILDEFONSO ORTIZ
18 May 2016

MCALLEN, Texas — Mexican cartel members kidnapped an American citizen in this border city and crossed him into Mexico and then demanded ransom money from his family. The region is controlled by the Gulf Cartel and outsiders engaging in kidnapping for ransom in their territory does not occur. The Mexican neighborhood where the victim was held is also a stronghold for the Gulf Cartel and considered a major base for their cross-border operations into the Rio Grande Valley Sector of Texas.

The kidnapping took place last Thursday in McAllen, Texas, when a person identified by Mexican authorities as 25-year-old Jordi Alejandro Gonzalez and another person identified by Mexican authorities as 18-year-old Jose Castillo Jr. kidnapped an unnamed 28-year-old man. Mexican authorities identify both kidnappers as being from Texas, Gonzalez is from Hidalgo, while Castillo is from Brownsville. However, Breitbart Texas sources indicate that Mexican authorities may have misidentified one of the individuals due to fake identification.



The kidnappers crossed the victim into Reynosa through one of the international bridges that connect that Mexican city with Texas. From Reynosa, the gunmen then took the victim to the Mexican border city of Matamoros. From a stash house in the Las Brisas neighborhoods, the cartel kidnappers demanded ransoms from the victim’s family.

On Wednesday, the Tamaulipas government announced the rescue of the kidnapping victim and the arrest of the two kidnappers.

The rescue was done by Mexican federal police forces who were able to track down the a vehicle that the gunmen had been using. Inside the vehicle the gunmen had the kidnapping victim and had been trying to move him to another location.

One of the kidnapping suspects, has had prior run ins with Texas authorities but has managed to avoid jail time. On October 1, 2014, local authorities arrested Gonzalez for his role in the running of an underground casino hidden inside a used car lot named Varela’s Auto Sales on McAllen’s 23rd Street.

Criminal complaint for underground casino in McAllen, Texas

Gonzalez’s court appointed attorney Terry Canales was able to have his client plead guilty to one felony count of possession of gambling equipment. As a result of the guilty plea, Gonzalez ended up being sentenced to two years of probation and a $1,000 fine. Two other misdemeanor charges tied to the underground casino were dismissed.

Underground casinos and kidnappings have become a side business for cartel members that allow the criminal organization to diversify their profits.

Earlier this month, Breitbart Texas reported on the kidnapping of a Texas family by cartel members as they drove through a Mexican highway. The family spent several days being held by cartel gunmen until authorities were able to rescue them after a gun battle.

In the border city of Matamoros, Breitbart Texas reported on how the Gulf Cartel began to focus on kidnappings and extortions last year. The move shifted towards the targeting of innocent civilians who often times were not returned safely to their families even after the ransoms were paid.

In August 2015, a group of cartel gunmen crossed into Sullivan City, Texas and kidnapped a local man. The victim was smuggled into Mexico where they held him for ransom until Mexican federal police officers were able to rescue him.
http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2016/...him-to-mexico/

Talk about a picture worth more than a thousand words!

W

Before anyone gets too excited, remember that claims to being a "US citizen", especially when targeted by the cartels, should be greeted with no small amount of skepticism. The only real alarming thing here is cartels operating inside the US, but that's been going on for a while now.

Police Chief Speaks about Kidnapping and Crime in the Valley


Rio Grande Valley law enforcement officials are reacting to the news of two U.S. citizens arrested in Mexico for kidnapping another U.S. citizen.

Police Chief Speaks about Kidnapping and Crime in the Valley

Posted: May 19, 2016 6:35 PM PDT
Updated: May 19, 2016 6:35 PM PDT

SAN JUAN — Rio Grande Valley law enforcement officials are reacting to the news of two U.S. citizens arrested in Mexico for kidnapping another U.S. citizen.

CHANNEL 5 NEWS is waiting to hear whether the suspects involved will face charges in the U.S. Police say it’s a concern.

San Juan Police Chief Juan Gonzales said the news has implications on this side of the border.

“It does concern us for two reasons,” Gonzales said. “One of the main reasons is the fact that, obviously, the people committing violent crimes are not just Mexican nationals or people that are here illegally. These individuals are obviously born citizens from this area. The second part is that they are working in conjunction with the Gulf Cartel.”

Jose Castillo Jr., 18, is from Brownsville, and Jordi Alejandro Gonzalez, 25, is from Hidalgo.

The two are accused of kidnapping a man in McAllen, taking him across the river to Reynosa and holding him against his will in Matamoros.
Mexican authorities said the men tried to collect ransom from the victim’s family.

Chief Gonzales said these kinds of kidnappings happen often in the Valley. It’s impossible to say how often, because most do not get reported to law enforcement.

“We don’t expect or feel that regular citizens will be targeted,” he said. “But we’ve always said this, ‘They can be caught in crossfire.’”

CHANNEL 5 NEWS did some digging into the suspects. Jordi Alejandro Gonzalez has a criminal history. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to possession of gambling equipment.

Court documents state Gonzalez helped run an illegal eight-liner establishment on a South 23rd Street lot in McAllen.

Chief Gonzales said criminals in the Valley often have ties to cartels that are committing violent crimes across the border. That’s why the public should report all suspicious activity to police.

“The minute that people choose not to get involved and not be a part of, be a partner to law enforcement, then bad things happen,” Gonzales said. “Usually, these individuals exploit that.”

It’s unclear if the men will face charges in the United States. The FBI usually investigates cross-border kidnappings. They can’t confirm or deny anything on this case. Count on CHANNEL 5 NEWS to report on any new details.

Police Chief Speaks about Kidnapping and Crime in the Valley Rio Grande Valley law enforcement officials are reacting to the news of two U.S. citizens arrested in Mexico for kidnapping another U.S. citizen.

http://www.krgv.com/story/32021209/p...idnapping-case