Footage of El Fresa Hitmen and New LFM Banners Say They Are At War with State Police in the State of Mexico

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Videos of La Familia Michoacana (LFM) hitmen gathering before a fight in the state of Mexico have been posted on social media. 

LFM also posted banners which announce that they are at war with the state police. In the banners, they warn other government security forces not to help out members of the state police. 

Videos of Hitmen from La Familia Michoacana 

Following the LFM attack on the FGE building that occurred on May 3, 2022 (covered in detail here), an old video of LFM hitmen has gained attention online. 

Some media outlets have misreported that the video seen below is of the hitmen gathering for the May 3rd attack, however it is believed that the video was taken before a fight between LFM and hitmen from a rival cartel organization.

Video Source: La Voz del Pueblo

In the video, the gunmen can be seen mulling around a number of vehicles with firearms in hand. Some news outlets, such as La Verdad Oculta report the video was rumored to have been filmed in Tejupilco de Hidalgo, in the state of Mexico. 

The man filming can be heard saying “Pura Fresada, pura Fresada,”, meaning they are all men who work for one of the leaders of LFM,  José Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga, alias “La Fresa”. (Not to be confused with CJNG’s El Fresa or any of the many other cartel figures with this alias.)

In a different video, LFM hitmen can again be seen mulling around vehicles with guns in hand. The video, which was shared by journalist Antonio Nieto, was alleged by Nieto to show the hitmen preparing for the May 3rd attack. 

Video Source: Antonio Nieto

The man filming sings along to a song while filming three hitmen sitting in the back of a white GMC pickup truck. All three appear to be donning tactical vests as well as carrying firearms. 

La Familia Michoacana Banners Against the SSC

On the morning of May 5, 2022, LFM narco banners were found across towns in the southern region of the state of Mexico. Banners were hung in the towns of Sultepec, Temascaltepec, Ixtapan de la Sal and Tejupilco by LFM hitmen, all in public spaces that are commonly traveled through. 

At least three of the banners bore the same message, which read: 

Our war is only against the rats of the SSC State of Mexico.

We ask the corporations not to accompany them in their tasks since we will be carrying out attacks only against this corporation "SSC EDO. MEXICO" 

Atte: Comandante Jabón, Fierro, Mala, Arcella, Payaso, Verde 

One banner was placed which bore a different message, but a similar formatting style. This one read: 

Communication [or Press Release]: To the SSC of the State of Mexico

Leader: Rodrigo Martínez Celis 

This was a warning, if you continue with your atrocities on society we will be forced to make direct attacks on your corporation throughout the state of Mexico like that group of rats that you sent to the south, all your elements will be harmed. 

It is in your hands to send honest personnel. We, La Familia Michoacana, reiterate our respect for the other corporations that fulfill their security tasks in accordance with the rights of the citizens. 

Sincerely, 

La Familia Michoacana

Rodrigo Martínez Celis is the head of the state police force for the state of Mexico.

LFM have been clashing with authorities in the state of Mexico for well over two years now. Back in 2020, they infamously ambushed and killed 13 police officers in an event that would dominate the state’s headlines for the rest of the year. 

The governor Ernesto Nemer Álvarez has been quick to point out that he believes the brutal LFM attacks on authorities are due to the fact that they are becoming increasingly better at taking down organized crime. The governor said of the May 3 attack that "We have made progress in the operations, in the strategies throughout the state, particularly in the south of the state, which is a reaction to a defined strategy with fixed, clear and important scopes. Yesterday's incident was a very regrettable event, I know it is an isolated incident, fortunately.”

The banners with the first message are signed by “Comandante Jabón, Fierro, Mala, Arcella, Payaso, Verde”. These names are often mentioned by rivals, such as the CJNG during this May 2020 video that was previously covered on Borderland Beat.

Still from the CJNG video which mentions Jabon, Fierro and Verde.

In that video El Jabón, El Fierro, and El Verde are mentioned, which means those three have been working for LFM for at least 2 years. Only a few of these are LFM figures that can be identified with an alleged real name. 

Juan Moreno Salgado, alias “El Jabón” 

It is believed that one of the direct reports of El Fresa and his brother Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga is believed to be Juan Moreno Salgado, alias “El Jabón”. Punto por Punto alleges that he acts as a regional chief, controlling the plaza of Tecaltitlán, Sultepec and Temascaltepec

One of the lieutenants who reportedly works under Jabón, named José Dámaso Alpízar, alias “El 47”, was arrested last year, during February 2021. His arrest led to a number of confrontation between LFM hitmen and police however LFM was unable to break him out of captivity at the time. 

Silverio Martínez Hernández, alias “El Fierro” 

Meanwhile the identity of El Fierro is known due to a $500,000 pesos wanted poster that was released in 2021.

Hitmen Videos Sources: La Voz del Pueblo, La Verdad Oculta, NiporWIFI, NarcoNoticias, Antonio Nieto

Banners Sources: BALAM., SSC Official Statement, El Sol de Toluca, Bisturi Noticias, Lucio Ramírez Medina, FM Meridiano 985, Edomex Ahora, El Valle, Radio y TV Mexiquense, Asi Sucede, Infobae, Escuadron TV

LFM Figures Sources: Punto por Punto, El Universal, La Voz del Pueblo, Excelsior