Borderland Beat
Court unveils more details on the men arrested along with Juan Roberto Rincón-Rincón as they prepare for trial
Mark Reagan | The Brownsville Herald
An alleged enforcer for a Gulf Cartel plaza boss was indicted late September, along with his boss and another high-ranking cartel member, federal court documents show.
The men who were arrested along with Juan Roberto -Rincón made an appearance in federal court Thursday morning for a procedural motion hearings in preparation of trial.
A partially unsealed indictment charges Luis Ivan Nino-Duenes, also known as “Machin” and “XW-13,” along with Jose Luis Zuñiga-Hernandez, also known as “Comandante Wicho” and “XW,” and Armando Arizmendi-Hernandez, also known as “Comandante Mando” and “XW-2,” with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana and conspiracy to import the drugs into the United States, according to the indictment, which alleges the conspiracy began in 2002.
The indictment lists three more names that have been blacked out. The men were arrested along with Juan Roberto Rincón-Rincón, also known as “Comandante X,” on Oct. 26, 2011, after fleeing a gun battle in Rio Bravo, Mexico, where Gulf Cartel rivals were trying to kill the men because of a conflict within the transnational criminal organization, court testimony revealed.
El Wicho Spills and claims he was coerced to give information:
An article from Dec 12, 2011 about El Wicho from Valley Central:
Federal court records say a high-ranking member of the Mexican Gulf cartel was fleeing "certain death" when caught by Border Patrol agents with a gold-plated handgun, cocaine and about $20,000.
The documents filed Monday reveal that Jose Luis Zuniga-Hernandez -- also known as "Comandante Wicho" -- admitted to his role in the cartel's marijuana trafficking operations.
Zuniga also spilled important information about the cartel to federal agents in the course of four lengthy interviews.
But Zuniga's attorney argued in a motion that those interviews were coerced.
The interviews took place in October after the Border Patrol apprehended Zuniga and four other men near the Rio Grande.
Zuniga is charged with illegal re-entry to the U.S. and possession of a firearm by a felon. He has pleaded not guilty.
Plead guilty to drug charges
Court unveils more details on the men arrested along with Juan Roberto Rincón-Rincón as they prepare for trial
Mark Reagan | The Brownsville Herald
The men who were arrested along with Juan Roberto -Rincón made an appearance in federal court Thursday morning for a procedural motion hearings in preparation of trial.
A partially unsealed indictment charges Luis Ivan Nino-Duenes, also known as “Machin” and “XW-13,” along with Jose Luis Zuñiga-Hernandez, also known as “Comandante Wicho” and “XW,” and Armando Arizmendi-Hernandez, also known as “Comandante Mando” and “XW-2,” with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana and conspiracy to import the drugs into the United States, according to the indictment, which alleges the conspiracy began in 2002.
The indictment lists three more names that have been blacked out. The men were arrested along with Juan Roberto Rincón-Rincón, also known as “Comandante X,” on Oct. 26, 2011, after fleeing a gun battle in Rio Bravo, Mexico, where Gulf Cartel rivals were trying to kill the men because of a conflict within the transnational criminal organization, court testimony revealed.
El Wicho Spills and claims he was coerced to give information:
An article from Dec 12, 2011 about El Wicho from Valley Central:
Federal court records say a high-ranking member of the Mexican Gulf cartel was fleeing "certain death" when caught by Border Patrol agents with a gold-plated handgun, cocaine and about $20,000.
The documents filed Monday reveal that Jose Luis Zuniga-Hernandez -- also known as "Comandante Wicho" -- admitted to his role in the cartel's marijuana trafficking operations.
Zuniga also spilled important information about the cartel to federal agents in the course of four lengthy interviews.
But Zuniga's attorney argued in a motion that those interviews were coerced.
The interviews took place in October after the Border Patrol apprehended Zuniga and four other men near the Rio Grande.
Zuniga is charged with illegal re-entry to the U.S. and possession of a firearm by a felon. He has pleaded not guilty.
