In Del Rio, three Texas Syndicate members from Uvalde, TX, face up to life in federal prison after a federal

jury convicted them last night of various violations of federal racketeering offenses committed in Uvalde, San

Antonio and the surrounding areas announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman.

Jurors convicted 38-year-old Raul “Fatboy” Rodriquez, 37-year-old Mike “Big Mike” Cassiano and 35-year-old

Cristobal “Little Cris” Velasquez of conspiracy to violate the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization

(RICO) statute. Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Rodriquez, Cassiano and Velasquez, along

with eleven other Texas Syndicate members and associates, conspired since 2002 to commit three murders, one

attempted murder, extortion, plus distribution of controlled substances.

In addition to the conspiracy charge, jurors convicted:

 Rodriquez of a violent crime in aid of racketeering, namely the murder of Rogelio Mata in Uvalde,

Texas on October 13, 2002, for allegedly failing to follow the rules of the Texas Syndicate;

 Velasquez of conspiracy to commit violent crime in aid of racketeering and the substantive charge of

violent crime in aid of racketeering for the murder of Jose Guadalupe de la Garza on December 25,

2005, in Uvalde, Texas for allegedly disrespecting the Texas Syndicate as well as conspiracy to commit

robbery in violation of the RICO statute; and,

 Cassiano, who previously held a leadership role in the criminal organization in 2005, of two counts of

conspiracy to commit violent crime in aid of racketeering for the Jose Guadalupe de la Garza murder

and the November 9, 2009, murder of Jesse James Polanco in Uvalde. Mr. Polanco was murdered

because it was suspected he was cooperating with law enforcement.

The following 11 co-defendants are awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty prior to trial to violating the RICO

statute: Sotero Rodriguez Martinez (a.k.a. “June”) of Uvalde; Chuco Mario Martinez (a.k.a. “Mariachi”) of

Uvalde; Jose Andres Torres (a.k.a “Yogi”) of Uvalde; Larry Munoz, Jr. (a.k.a. “Little Larry”) of Uvalde; Brian

Esparza (a.k.a. “Tata”) of Uvalde; Charles Esparza (a.k.a. “Horse”) of Uvalde; Ervey Sanchez (a.k.a. “Mad

Max”) of Uvalde; Inez Mata (a.k.a. “Bebito”) of Uvalde; Mark Anthony Vela of Hondo, Texas; Mario Alberto

Gonzales (a.k.a. “The Enforcer”) of Hondo; and, Charles Olan Quintanilla of Hondo.

In a separate, but related matter, on June 20, 2013, a federal jury in Del Rio returned guilty verdicts against Eli

Torres and Alfredo Tapia III, the last two defendants involved in a narcotics distribution ring operating in

Hondo, Uvalde, San Antonio and the surrounding areas. This narcotics distribution ring was connected to and

associated with the Texas Syndicate prison gang.

Jurors convicted 37-year-old Eli Torres of Uvalde of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500

grams or more of cocaine from August 1, 2009, until September 28, 2011. Evidence presented at trial revealed

that Torres, as a member of the Texas Syndicate, participated in this drug distribution ring by using the

organization’s drug distribution connections to aid him in obtaining cocaine to sell on the streets of Uvalde.

Torres faces between ten years and life in federal prison for this conviction. Torres was also found guilty of

possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine within 1,000 feet of the Sacred Heart

Parish School in Uvalde. As a result, he faces between five and 80 years in prison for this conviction. Torres,

who remains in federal custody, awaits sentencing scheduled for December 16, 2013.

Jurors also convicted 42-year-old Alfredo “Naco” Tapia, III, of conspiracy to possess with the intent to

distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine from August 1, 2009, until September 28, 2011. He was also found

guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana from August 1,

2009 until September 28, 2011. Tapia faces between five and 40 years in federal prison for each conviction.

Evidence presented at trial revealed that Tapia was associated with members of the Texas Syndicate prison

gang and facilitated their distribution of cocaine and marijuana.

The other members of the conspiracy listed below are all awaiting sentencing after entering guilty pleas prior to

trial. They include: Jose Alberto Ruiz (a.k.a. “Spike”), of Uvalde; Calletano Nira (a.k.a. “Cat) of Hondo;

Joshua Leonard Benavides of Hondo; Ted Benavides (a.k.a. “TJ”) of Hondo; Jessica Escareno of Hondo;

Ruben Dominguez of Hondo; Sandra Torres of Uvalde; Jaime Corona, Jr., of Hondo; John Khosravi of San

Antonio; and, former Bandera County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Cuellar of Hondo. On April 2, 2013, Cuellar

pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful use of a government computer and one count of possession with intent

to distribute cocaine. By pleading guilty, Cuellar admitted that on August 31, 2010, he unlawfully accessed a

department computer in order to obtain law enforcement information regarding co-conspirators. As a result,

Cuellar faces up to twenty years in federal prison on the drug charge and up to five years in federal prison on

the unlawful access charge. Only Cuellar and Sandra Torres are currently on bond pending sentencing; all other

defendants remain in federal custody.

These prosecutions resulted from a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the Texas

Department of Public Safety--Criminal Investigations Division, San Antonio Police Department, Medina

County Sheriff’s Office and the Bandera County Sheriff’s Office. Also assisting in the investigation was the

38th Judicial District Adult Probation Gang Unit, Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the U.S. Bureau of

Prisons. The U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Customs and Border

Protection and the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Department assisted in making the arrests. These cases were

prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica Giese, Ralph Paradiso and Patrick Burke.

Staff

-Eagle Pass

Ryan Ricks, owner of our local Ashley Furniture Homestore informed The News Gram of there very successful sidewalk sale that took place this past Saturday. 

The total money that was donated to the Red Cross was $4.316.96

"The benefit sidewalk sale was a success and our community came out in full force to take advantage of huge savings while giving back to the people of Eagle Pass, this is our community and we have to give back to the people of EP for the support they have given us." informed Ryan Ricks.

The sale ended at 2 pm with only a few items left.

Ryan Ricks and Ashley Furniture Homestore would like to thank The News Gram and KINL radio for the support for this event.

The Team Ferny Run was held this Sunday at Shelby Park and was a very succesful running event as many people from acroos the state were on hand to take part in the first of many Team Ferny 5k/10k runs in our area. Runners from Mexico, San Antonio, Austin and across Texas gathered to run in a highly competitive race that took runners through scenic downtown and along our Mexican border on a surprisingly cool and pleasent day for a run.