BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A former Gulf Cartel plaza boss has pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in a case brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
Jose Luis Zuniga-Hernandez, 46, aka Wicho or XW or Commandante Wicho, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana between January 2002 and July 2013.
As part of his plea, he has agreed to a $5 million forfeiture.
His brother, Armando Arizmendi Hernandez, 37, aka Commandante Mando or XW2, entered the same plea and agreed forfeiture on Tuesday, March 25, 2014.
Zuniga-Hernandez served as plaza boss of the El Control, Tamaulipas, Plaza, and during that time, Arizmendi Hernandez was second in command.
Arizmendi-Hernandez became the plaza boss on Nov. 6, 2010, when Zuniga-Hernandez assumed control of the Matamoros Plaza upon the death of Antonio Ezequiel Cardenas-Guillen.
The Cartel Del Golfo Transnational Criminal Organization (CDG) plaza bosses are appointed to specific regions to help coordinate the importation and distribution of multi-ton shipments of cocaine, marijuana, and other illicit narcotics within Mexico and into the United States.
Zuniga-Hernandez received marijuana shipments from the States of Durango and Michoacán, Mexico, purchased at $60 per kilogram in Mexico and sold at $130 per kilogram in the U.S.
He indicated the CDG smuggled more than one ton of cocaine through the Matamoros/El Control plaza areas and into the United States per month.
Planes and clandestine air strips were used to fly the cocaine into Mexico for later importation and distribution within the United States.
Under his command were approximately 120 lookouts and 60 estacas.
An estaca is a vehicle occupied by three or four armed individuals.
All were found and arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) hiding near the Rio Grande River.
Upon their arrest, agents found a gold, diamond, and ruby-encrusted gun, more than $39,000, and several cell phones.
Evidence on those phones showed discussions with ‘Apa’ about the gun battle and what to do in response.
‘Apa’ was identified as Jorge Eduardo Costilla-Sanchez, the head of the CDG.
Both have stipulated that the total relevant conduct during their leadership was well in excess of 150 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 kilograms of marijuana.
They face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison.
Both will be sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Hilda G. Tagle on June 30, 2014.
Related Federal Cases
- Lakeva Shillette Hill, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Crack Cocaine, Texas 2013 · Texas
- Shannell Gosine, Cocaine Trafficking, Texas 2023 · Tennessee
- Micol Jauron Sears, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine, Texas 2014 · Texas
- Shane Dwayne Hadnot, Cocaine Deal, Texas 2013 · Ohio
- Reginald Lavann Eastern, Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Texas 2012 · California
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking