Luis Ivan Nino-Duenez, Narcotics Trafficking, Texas 2014

A 34-year-old Mexican man, Luis Ivan Nino-Duenez, has been ordered to federal prison for a total of 20 years following his conviction of conspiracy to import large amounts of cocaine and marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Nino-Duenez, a former comandante for the Gulf Cartel, pleaded guilty on June 3, 2014.

The court heard evidence to support possible increases in the calculated sentencing guideline range. Nino-Duenez utilized automatic weapons, grenades, homemade cannons, and body armor to provide security during the purchase, transportation, and distribution of narcotics.

He commanded, directed, and engaged in violent confrontations with other criminal syndicates to maintain control of the plazas in Mexico. Nino-Duenez also received enhancements for importation of meth into the United States, maintaining premises for the purpose of manufacturing or distributing a controlled substance, and because he committed the offense as part of a pattern of criminal conduct.

Additionally, the court found Nino-Duenez was a leader/organizer of an extensive criminal enterprise involving five or more participants.

Nino-Duenez served as a comandante for Jose Luiz Zuniga-Hernandez, aka Wicho or XW, who served as a Gulf Cartel plaza boss in El Control for a large period of time between 2008 and 2011.

On Nov. 6, 2010, Zuniga-Hernandez assumed control of the Matamoros Plaza upon the death of Antonio Ezequiel Cardenas-Guillen. On March 28, 2011, Rafael Cardenas-Vela came to Matamoros to take over the plaza management duties, and Zuniga-Hernandez returned to El Control.

Cartel Del Golfo (CDG) transnational criminal organization 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.

They are the lead representatives for the CDG in a particular region or town, responsible for maintaining control of the region and ensuring the safe passage of narcotics. The plaza boss also extracts a 'piso,' or payment, from others who want to transport narcotics for importation into the United States or operate businesses in that region.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/former-gulf-cartel-comandante-receives-significant-prison-sentence