MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Jose Angel Chapa-Aguilera, 24, of Lino Lakes, Minnesota, will spend the next 289 months – 24 years – in federal prison for a horrifying crime spree involving methamphetamine trafficking, brutal torture, and a desperate attempt to evade law enforcement. U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced the sentencing yesterday, detailing a case that shocked even seasoned investigators.
The nightmare began in December 2021, when Chapa-Aguilera confronted a man at his Brooklyn Park residence over what he claimed was an outstanding drug debt. The confrontation quickly escalated into a sadistic assault. Chapa-Aguilera brandished a handgun, forced the victim to the ground, and bound his hands. For hours, the victim endured a relentless beating and torture, subjected to burns from a heated knife and repeated blows from a pipe. Throughout the ordeal, Chapa-Aguilera demanded money, leaving the victim with extensive injuries – numerous burns, broken ribs, a severe laceration above his eye, and requiring a life-saving blood transfusion. He then barricaded the man in a crawlspace before fleeing.
The violence didn’t stop there. Back in April 2021, Worthington Police pulled over a vehicle driven by Chapa-Aguilera, uncovering a hidden stash of over two pounds of methamphetamine and a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol concealed within the spare tire compartment. This initial bust laid the groundwork for the later unraveling of his criminal enterprise. When authorities executed a search warrant on his residence following the torture incident, they recovered an additional three pounds of methamphetamine.
Chapa-Aguilera attempted to flee justice in January 2022, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit through the Twin Cities in a purple-camouflage Humvee. The chase ended when officers disabled the vehicle and took him into custody. Another 9mm handgun and ammunition were recovered from inside the Humvee. The ATF, DEA, Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force, Brooklyn Park Police, and Worthington Police all contributed to the investigation that ultimately brought him down.
On September 6, 2022, Chapa-Aguilera pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen handed down the 289-month sentence, followed by 10 years of supervised release. The judge clearly signaled that this level of brutality and callous disregard for human life would not be tolerated.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter prosecuted the case, presenting damning evidence of Chapa-Aguilera’s depravity. The victim’s ordeal serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers posed by methamphetamine trafficking and the violence that often accompanies it. This case underscores the ATF’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking organizations and bringing violent offenders to justice, even when the crimes are as horrific as this one.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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