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Monday, September 10, 2012

CAF associate sentenced in San Diego

Former Mexican official, and CAF collaborator sentenced


Nearly two years after his arrest, as a routine traffic stop, Jesus Marquez Quionez is at the end of a lengthy court process, which concluded today, as he pled guilty to charges of racketeering and conspiracy to launder money.

Marquez was indicted along with 42 others in highly publicized strike at the remains of the Tijuana Cartel, AFO/CAF, now touted as the Fernando Sanchez Organization, by San Diego law enforcement.

FSO members trafficked in methemphetamine, marijuana, cocaine and were engaged in robbery, kidnapping, smuggling, and arms dealing.  The July 2010 indictment painted a picture of Marquez, a 41 year old family man as a corrupted official, who used his influence, and cross border connections to further the agenda of organized crime.  Marquez, until the July arrest was the director of liaison between San Diego based law enforcement and the Mexican Attorney Generals office, in Tijuana.

Marquez was caught in dozens of over 50,000 recorded conversations, during the course of the investigation.  Conversations, that prosecutors allege, and Marquez now admits showed him in the pocket of an FSO lieutenant, Jose Najera Gil.  The conversations include Gil asking Marquez to change the course of an official investigation into a double homicide that occured in Tijuana in March of 2010.

The murders were ordered by Gil, and perpetuated by FSO members, the victims alleged to be members of the gang led by Teodoro Garcia Simental, referred to demeaningly as 'the fishitas', by Gil, over the wire taps.  Gil wanted the police reports to reflect the opposite, deferring and transferring blame to the rival crew.

In another, Marquez was told to change his cell phone, after being given another one by Gil.  Marquez also asked Gil to purchase him an apartment, Gil stalled him, saying more money would be available soon.  Attorney for Marquez, Patrick Hall, initially said that the talks between Gil and Marquez had been taken out of context, due a language barrier.  Now, after the guilty plea, they claim Gil was at first an informant of Marquez, who was developing him as a cooperator, for his own investigative purposes.

 Gil, apparently had been a previous employee of the Baja Attorney General's office.  During the sentencing, Marquez, addressing the court and Judge William Hayes, apologized to his family, and the government for his actions.  He also explained that 'The relationship I had with this individual started with good intentions', before stating that he allowed the relationship to become corrupted. 

Hall downplayed both of the charges, and the guilt, saying that the information Marquez gave to Gil about the murders was secondhand, from a neighbor, who lived near the scene of the killings.  The money laundering charges, a scheme to smuggle 13 million in cash from Los Angeles to Mexico, stemmed from a third party, friend of Marquez's who asked him for help to transport the money.

 Marquez wanted to use his contacts in the FSO to facilitate the operation.   Nothing ever transpired.  Authorities and other media sources state that the money was the property of the FSO.  Of the 43 defendants named in the unsealed indictment, 39 have pled guilty, and four are believed to be in Mexico.

It has been a long road for Marquez, as his wife and children looked on in the courtroom, he was sentenced to eight years, and one month.  The charges he pled to, carried a possible maximum sentence of life in prison.  He exhaled and put his head down, as the judge read the sentence.  Leaving the courtroom he blew a kiss at his family.  



Sources:  AFN Tijuana, UT San Diego. 

14 comments:

  1. I really don't mean to be crass or crude but The only thing that I can say about this is that he is a puto. He sold himself and should have received a longer sentence.

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  2. For all who say the CAF is dead, they seem to have pretty recent involvement in govt infiltration and sophisticated criminal activity. CAF is wedged pretty deep in the political machine. It's reminiscent of that old saying "the best trick the Devil ever played was convincing the world he didn't exist".

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    1. EL Cartel is from from demolished. Since the 80s it planted the seed and turned into a company with many roots reaching every dimension of Baja including more in Tijuana.
      . There still are narco juniors and capos from the 90s that still operate with El Ingeniero. Benjamin knew that one day his day as jefe de la Frontera wouod come to N end so he made sure that to leave sophisticated hard headed business men to calloborate with his Family. CAF still runs Cali and Baja.

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  3. Living in Southern Ca. it is very interesting reading anything about the AFO. In the news at least things have been sooo quiet lately in TJ, because of the truce/ deal/ peace/ whatever!! between CDS AFO. It used so hot down there,but now most news comes from everywhere else in MEx. I'm not cheerleading but I like reading about these guys that we don't here much about. Anyone else know what I,m saying.

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  4. People in public office,elected representatives,and people who can use their authority to engage in criminal acts,are the worst of the worst.At least you know what you are,but these people are the most dangerous and hypocritical,they undermine a country's law and order and morality,they facilitate organizations like this and give them access to spheres of influence they wouldn't ordinarily have.It is people just like this,who undermine a country.Imagine how many more of him are working in positions of power and influence?Imagine the damage they routinely create from the safety of an office?These are some of the worst types in any country.We should have the most draconian sentences for people just like this.

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  5. Look at him!Would you buy a used car off this man?
    Nah,lets give him a good job where he can abuse and divert investigations into murders,kidnappings,and basically anything he wants.He was a good guy,honest he was,he got led astray by criminal elements that's all.
    Yeah right.

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  6. He got worked. What a stupid motherfucker. He's lucky to be alive. Why is he alive? Eat shit and die.

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  7. Why do we constantly extradite criminals from MX then let them plea to a hand slap sentance? He is going to be out in 4 years with good behavior.

    San Diego Federal Prosecutors - Harden the fuck up!

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  8. im sorry but ive said it 100x's, corruption IS the reason criminals thrive in mexico! without corrupt officials thecartels would not be nearly as powerful

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  9. And who says they didnt offer him Silver or Lead? what would you do,if that was your only option.

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  10. He will NOT be out in 4 years, he's going to federal prison and he'll have to do at least 98% of his sentence. If it was state prison then 4 years would be likely.

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  11. I doubt they threatened him with violence, exposure, maybe, you can read the indictment. He was asking for more money, for apartments, all sorts of things. They were talking like close associates.

    As far as more time....what he did was serious, but he didn't kill anyone, he didn't conspire too, he was a small part of this crew, contributed minor things, and the sentence is fair. People just want to see them get broke with like 100 year sentences, which is absurd, the punishment has to fit the crime.

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  12. J said... ?
    Yes,he didn't do anything that bad did he?Just tried to steer a murder investigation on to something else that's all.Not that bad?And this is just what we know of?Imagine 20,000 of him in office?Yes,its not that bad is it?Give him a slap on the wrist and"don't do it again"that should suffice.Opinions,sheeeiiitt.

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  13. EL CAF IS MORE POWERFUL THAN IT USE TO BE THATS THE WORD HERE IN TIJUANA BAJACALIFORNIA

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