Thread: Commander of drug cartel guilty of shooting ICE agents in Mexico

Commander of drug cartel guilty of shooting ICE agents in Mexico

By Jerry Seper
The Washington Times
Thursday, May 23, 2013

Julian Zapata Espinoza, a cell commander of the brutal Los Zetas drug cartel, pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in the District in the killing of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agent Jaime Zapata and the attempted murder of his partner, ICE Agent Victor Avila, during a February 2011 daylight ambush on a major highway 250 miles north of Mexico City.

U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. for the District of Columbia said the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Thursday also unsealed the guilty pleas of three other Los Zetas members on related murder, attempted murder, racketeering and accessory charges.

“The deadly ambush of two highly dedicated and courageous American law enforcement officers by the Los Zetas drug cartel demanded an intense, dedicated and forceful response,” said Mr. Machen. “The message to any criminal who dares to commit an act of violence against a U.S. law enforcement officer serving in a foreign land is unmistakable — if you commit such a heinous crime, we will not forget, we will not falter, and we will not rest until you are brought to justice.”

Agent Zapata and Agent Avila were driving from Monterrey to Mexico City where they were assigned to ICE’s attache office when drug cartel members forced their vehicle from the highway and opened fire. Agent Zapata was mortally wounded, struck five times in the chest. Agent Avila was shot twice in the leg but survived.

Neither of the agents was armed, as the Mexican government does not let U.S. law enforcement personnel carry weapons into that country.

Espinoza, known as “El Piolin” or “Tweety Bird” because of his short height, was identified by Mexican authorities as the leader of a Zetas hit team in the city of San Luis Potosi. As commander of a heavily armed Mexican narco-trafficking cartel and transnational criminal organization, he attempted to hijack Agent Zapata’s and Agent Avila’s armored government vehicle as the agents were driving on Highway 57 in San Luis Potosi.

Mr. Machen said evidence in the case showed that two armed Zetas hit squads, or “estacas,” forced the agents off the road and surrounded their vehicle. Espinoza, the leader of the attack, ordered the agents to exit their vehicle. When the agents refused and attempted to identify themselves as American diplomats from the U.S. Embassy, he said the hit squad members fired weapons near and into the vehicle, striking both agents.

The hit team continued to fire at the vehicle as the agents attempted to escape by driving away. Agent Zapata died as a result of the gunshot wounds he suffered during the attack, and Agent Avila was seriously injured.

Espinoza was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia in April 2011 on multiple counts pertaining to the ambush killing, and was extradited to the United States on Dec. 20, 2011.

He entered his guilty plea before Chief Judge Royce C. Lamberth to the murder of Agent Zapata, an officer and employee of the United States, and the attempted murder of Agent Avila, an officer and employee of the United States.

Mr. Machen also announced related guilty pleas by three other defendants: Ruben Dario Venegas Rivera, also known as “Catracho,” 25, pleaded guilty on Aug. 1, 2011, to federal charges concerning the murder of Agent Zapata and attempted murder of Agent Avila; Jose Ismael Nava Villagran, also known as “Cacho,” 30, pleaded guilty on Jan. 4, 2012, also to federal charges concerning the murder and attempted murder of the ICE agents; and Francisco Carbajal Flores, also known as “Dalmata,” 38, pleaded guilty on Jan. 10, 2012, to conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and to being an accessory after the fact to the murder and attempted murder of the ICE agents.

As part of their guilty pleas, Espinoza, Rivera and Villagran admitted to being members of a Los Zetas hit squad and to participating directly in the Feb. 15, 2011, ambush of the two agents. The fourth defendant, Flores, acknowledged assisting Zetas members after the Feb. 15 attack.

All four defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison. No sentencing date has been set for the defendants.

The guilty pleas were announced by Mr. Machen; Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Ronald T. Hosko of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division; and ICE Director John Morton.

The case is being prosecuted by the Organized Crime and Gang Section and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

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Three Defendants Plead Guilty to Participating in Ambush Murder and Attempted Murder of ICE Agents in Mexico

Fourth Defendant Pleads Guilty as Accessory After the Fact to Ambush

U.S. Department of Justice May 23, 2013
Office of Public Affairs (202) 514-2007/TDD (202)514-1888

WASHINGTON—Julian Zapata Espinoza, also known as “Piolin,” 32, pleaded guilty today to the murder of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agent Jaime Zapata and the attempted murder of ICE Special Agent Victor Avila in Mexico. The court also unsealed today the guilty pleas of three other defendants on related murder, attempted murder, racketeering, and accessory charges.

The guilty pleas, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, were announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ronald C. Machen, Jr.; Assistant Director Ronald T. Hosko of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division; and ICE Director John Morton.

As set forth in court filings, on February 15, 2011, Espinoza, a commander in Los Zetas Cartel, a heavily armed Mexican narco-trafficking cartel and transnational criminal organization, attempted to hijack Special Agent Zapata’s and Special Agent Avila’s armored government vehicle as the agents were driving on Highway 57 in San Luis Potosi. Two armed Zetas hit squads, or “estacas,” forced the agents off the road, and surrounded their vehicle. Espinoza, the leader of the attack, ordered the agents to exit their vehicle. When the agents refused and attempted to identify themselves as American diplomats from the U.S. Embassy, the hit squad members fired weapons near and into the vehicle, striking both agents. Estaca members continued to fire at the vehicle as the agents attempted to escape by driving away. Special Agent Zapata died as a result of the gunshot wounds he suffered during the attack, and Special Agent Avila was seriously injured.

On April 19, 2011, Espinoza was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia on multiple counts pertaining to the murder of ICE Special Agent Zapata and the attempted murder of ICE Special Agent Avila and, on December 20, 2011, was extradited from Mexico to the United States. This morning, the defendant entered a guilty plea before Chief Judge Royce C. Lamberth to the murder of Special Agent Zapata, an officer and employee of the United States, and the attempted murder of Special Agent Avila, an officer and employee of the United States.

In addition to the announcing the guilty plea of Espinoza, prosecutors also announced related guilty pleas by three other defendants. Ruben Dario Venegas Rivera, also known as “Catracho,” 25, pleaded guilty on August 1, 2011, to federal charges concerning the murder of Special Agent Zapata and attempted murder of Special Agent Avila. Jose Ismael Nava Villagran, also known as “Cacho,” 30, pleaded guilty on January 4, 2012, also to federal charges concerning the murder and attempted murder of the ICE agents. Francisco Carbajal Flores, also known as “Dalmata,” 38, pleaded guilty on January 10, 2012, to conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and to being an accessory after the fact to the murder and attempted murder of the ICE agents.

As part of their guilty pleas, Espinoza, Rivera, and Villagran admitted to being members of a Los Zetas hit squad and to participating directly in the February 15, 2011 ambush of the two special agents. The fourth defendant, Flores, acknowledged assisting Zetas members after the February 15 attack.

All four defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison. No sentencing date has been set for the defendants.

“Special Agent Zapata died for his country in a senseless and brutal attack, and Special Agent Avila was grievously wounded in the same ambush by members of Los Zetas Cartel,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Raman. “Both men are American heroes who dedicated themselves to protecting the United States, only to be attacked by vicious thugs. I hope that today’s announcement of guilty pleas by the cartel members directly responsible for the attack brings some measure of justice to the victims and their families. A team of dedicated prosecutors and investigators has worked day and night to identify and hold these defendants accountable. Our work is far from over, and we will continue to devote our full resources and work with our law enforcement partners here and abroad to investigate and prosecute those responsible.”

“The deadly ambush of two highly dedicated and courageous American law enforcement officers by the Los Zetas drug cartel demanded an intense, dedicated, and forceful response,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “The message to any criminal who dares to commit an act of violence against a U.S. law enforcement officer serving in a foreign land is unmistakable—if you commit such a heinous crime, we will not forget, we will not falter, and we will not rest until you are brought to justice. Our work in this critical case will continue until all of those who participated in the murder of Special Agent Zapata and attempted murder of Special Agent Avila are held accountable.”

“With the assistance of our law enforcement partners, assailants responsible for murdering Agent Zapata and wounding Agent Avila have been brought to justice,” said FBI Assistant Director Hosko. “While there is nothing we can do to change what happened that fateful day in Mexico, let it be known that an attack against any federal agent serving his or her country is an attack on all federal agents and, as such, remains a priority for the FBI until those responsible are brought to justice.”

“Today’s announcement is a very important milestone in the effort to see that justice is served in the murder of ICE Special Agent Zapata and the attempted murder of ICE Special Agent Victor Avila,” said ICE Director Morton. “Both men were trying to make the world a safer place, and today’s result is a very welcome step to honor their service and sacrifice.”

This case is being investigated by the FBI, with substantial assistance from ICE; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Customs and Border Protection; the Diplomatic Security Service; and the U.S. Marshals Service.

The case is being prosecuted by the Organized Crime and Gang Section and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division provided substantial assistance.


FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. government, U.S. Department of Justice

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