Another suspected Zeta member arrested in ICE Agent Jaime Zapata's slaying

January 13, 2012 10:40 AM
EMMA PEREZ-TREVINO and LAURA B. MARTINEZ/The Brownsville Herald

Another suspected Zeta cartel leader has been arrested in connection with the slaying of ICE Agent Jaime Zapata.

Mexico's Attorney General’s Office announced the detention of Luis Jesus Sarabia Ramon, alias Pepito and Z-44 in Garcia, Nuevo Leon.

Authorities report Sarabia Ramon is a top leader of the Zetas criminal organization and is said to have ordered the attacks on Zapata and fellow Special Agent Victor Avila in February.

Sarabia Ramon is said to be the regional chief of the Zetas criminal organization in the states of Coahuila, Aguascalientes and San Luis Potosi.

He also is said to have ordered attacks against Mexican authorities, law enforcement officials and military troops.

Agent Zapata, 32, a native of Brownsville, worked for U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. He was killed in February in Mexico in an attack by suspected members of the Zetas criminal organization. Avila was wounded in the attack.

Last month, Julian Zapata Espinoza, also known as "Piolin" or "Tweety,"another suspected Zeta member was extradited to the United States and appeared in federal court for the murder of Zapata. He pleaded not guilty and was orderd held without bond.

A federal grand jury in April indicted Zapata Espinoza on one count of murder of officer or employee of the United States, one count of attempted murder or an officer or employee of the United States, one count of attempted murder of an internationally protected person and one count of using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence causing death and aiding and abetting and causing an act to be done, court documents show.

Zapata Espinoza and along with five other suspected members of the Zeta drug cartel were apprehended in Mexico about a week after the shooting. Zapata Espinoza reportedly told Mexican authorities that Zapata’s death was a case of mistaken identity. He and others believed the Suburban in which Zapata and Avila were riding belonged to a rival drug cartel.

Another suspected Zeta member arrested in ICE Agent Jaime Zapata's sla - Brownsville Herald