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  • U.S. Department of Justice

    U.S. Attorney’s Office
    Western District of Texas
    Johnny Sutton, U.S. Attorney

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Shana Jones, Special Assistant
    Daryl Fields, Public Information Officer
    (210) 384-7440

    January 10, 2008

    BARRIO AZTECA GANG MEMBERS INDICTED AND ARRESTED



United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced today that yesterday a federal grand jury
returned an 11 count indictment charging various subjects with racketeering (RICO), a RICO
conspiracy, extortion, a money laundering conspiracy, a conspiracy to possess various controlled
substances, as well committing violent crimes in aid of racketeering, including assault and
murder. The subjects are charged with committing the racketeering activity as leaders, members
and associates of the Barrio Azteca criminal enterprise.
The indictment alleges that the Barrio Azteca gang operated its criminal organization through its
command structure, and the gang implemented and executed its criminal racketeering, drug
trafficking, and money laundering activities in the El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, area. They
promoted and protected their power and their operations through threats of force, intimidation,
assaults, and murder. The Barrio Azteca through its command structure has perpetuated this
“schemeâ€