Barrio Azteca Gang Lieutenant Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy

A Barrio Azteca (BA) gang lieutenant pleaded guilty today for his participation in a racketeering and drug trafficking conspiracy in El Paso, Texas.

Ricardo Valles De La Rosa, aka Chino, 52, of El Paso, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone of the Western District of Texas to racketeering conspiracy; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to import heroin, cocaine and marijuana; and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

As part of his plea, Valles agreed that he conspired to commit murder in a foreign country. Sentencing has been scheduled for March 23, 2017. Valles is one of 35 members and associates of the BA gang charged in a third superseding indictment unsealed in March 2011, with various counts of racketeering, murder, drug offenses, money laundering and obstruction of justice.

The BA gang, a transnational criminal organization based in West Texas; Juarez, Mexico; and throughout state and federal prisons in the United States and Mexico, has a militaristic command structure and includes captains, lieutenants, sergeants, soldiers and associates – all with the purpose of maintaining power and enriching its members and associates through drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, intimidation, violence, threats of violence and murder.

The gang profits by importing heroin, cocaine and marijuana into the United States from Mexico. Gang members and associates also charge a “street tax” or “cuota” to businesses and criminals operating in their turf, which profits are used to funnel money into prison commissary accounts and to pay for defense lawyers or fines to support imprisoned BA members.

According to plea agreements by other defendants in this investigation, members and associates of the BA have engaged in a host of criminal activity committed since Jan. 1, 2003, ranging from drug trafficking, extortion and money laundering to kidnapping and homicides, including the March 13, 2010, murders in Juarez of a U.S. consulate employee and her husband, as well as the husband of another U.S. consulate employee.

Ricardo Valles De La Rosa, also known as Chino, became an associate of the BA while imprisoned at a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facility, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. Following his release from the BOP facility and deportation to Juarez, in July 2007, Valles was promoted to lieutenant and placed in charge of prostitution and illegal after-hours alcohol sales in downtown Juarez, and also collected “cuota.”

Additionally, Valles obtained law enforcement-related information from unauthorized sources on behalf of the BA, and would use that contact to obtain information regarding the arrests of BA members, the activities and locations of rival gang members and the results of hits carried out by the BA. Further, Valles maintained rosters of BA members in Juarez and was in charge of conducting daily roll-calls, as well as maintaining communications between the BA in Juarez and BA members who were in and out of prison in the United States.

In light of the serious nature of the crimes, Ricardo Valles De La Rosa, 52, is expected to face serious consequences for his actions. The charges against him carry a maximum sentence of up to life in prison.

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