The U.S. Justice Department
released the below information:
Two Mexican nationals were
sentenced today to two terms of life in prison for the murder of a federal
officer, attempted murder of a federal officer, and related offenses in the
killing of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security
Investigations (ICE-HSI) Special Agent Jaime Zapata and the attempted murder of
ICE HSI Special Agent Victor Avila on Feb. 15, 2011, in Mexico.
Acting Assistant Attorney General
Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney
Jessie K. Liu of the District of Columbia, Assistant Director of the FBI's
Criminal Investigative Division Stephen E. Richardson and Acting Director Thomas D. Homan of ICE
made the announcement.
The defendants, Jose Emanuel
Garcia Sota, aka Juan Manuel Maldonado Amezcua, aka “Zafado,” 36, of San Luis
Potosi, Mexico, and Jesus Ivan Quezada Piña, aka “Loco,” 29, of Matamoros,
Mexico, are among seven Mexican nationals who were extradited to the United
States on federal charges in this case.
They were found guilty by a jury on July 27, in the U.S. District Court
for the District of Columbia, and sentenced by the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth.
“HSI Special Agents Jaime Zapata and Victor
Avila were in Mexico to protect and serve our country when they were ambushed
by these ruthless criminals, who will now spend the rest of their lives in a
prison cell,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Blanco. “This case serves as a reminder, that if you
harm a U.S. agent, the U.S. government will pursue you to the ends of the earth
to ensure that you are brought to justice.”
“Special Agents Zapata and
Avila dedicated themselves to federal law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney
Liu. “While working on behalf of our
country, they were ruthlessly gunned down in a carjacking attempt by members of
hit squads for the Los Zetas drug cartel.
We have never forgotten what happened to these two American heroes in
that ambush on a Mexican highway more than six years ago. The sentencings this week reflect our
determination to protect U.S. officials abroad and bring to justice those who
do them harm.”
“This week’s sentencings for
those responsible for the murder of ICE Special Agent Jaime Zapata and the
attempted murder of Special Agent Victor Avila are the closure and justice we
have been working toward since we began our investigation” said Assistant FBI
Director Richardson. “Any attack against a federal agent serving his or her
country is deeply personal for us and investigating those attacks remain a top
priority for the FBI. I want to thank all of our law enforcement partners and
our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia for
their tireless work to bring this case to a successful conclusion and secure
these sentences.”
“The sentences handed down
today should serve as a powerful message to drug cartels and other
transnational criminal organizations that there is no escape from justice, and
that we will not rest until they have been held accountable for their crimes to
the fullest extent of the law,” said ICE Acting Director Homan. “We remain grateful to the government of
Mexico, the Department of Justice, and all our partners involved in sending
these murderers to prison. The men and
women of ICE will not forget the example of bravery and sacrifice set by
Special Agent Zapata as we work to eradicate these criminal networks across the
globe.”
Garcia Sota and Quezada Piña
were found guilty of four federal offenses: murder of an officer or employee of
the United States; attempted murder of an officer or employee of the United
States; attempted murder of an internationally protected person; and using,
carrying and brandishing and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a
crime of violence causing death. The
verdicts followed a trial that began July 10, in the U.S. District Court for
the District of Columbia, during which the government presented testimony from
22 witnesses, including Special Agent Avila.
According to the government’s
evidence at trial, Garcia Sota and Quezada Piña were members of two Los Zetas
hit squads, or “estacas,” and were on a mission on the day of the shootings to
steal vehicles for use in the cartel’s operations. On the afternoon of Feb. 15, 2011, Garcia
Sota and Quezada Piña were among a group of cartel members who targeted an
armored Chevrolet Suburban bearing diplomatic plates and driven by the special
agents on a busy highway south of San Luis Potosi. Special Agent Zapata and Special Agent Avila
were on official business, heading southbound to Mexico City, when the attack
took place. During the ambush, the
cartel members fired at and into the agents’ vehicle with handguns and
semiautomatic assault weapons, including AK-47 and AR-15 type assault
rifles. Special Agent Zapata, 32, was
fatally shot, and Special Agent Avila, then 38, was wounded. Investigators later found approximately 90
shell casings at the scene, according to the trial evidence.
Five other defendants
previously pleaded guilty to federal charges in this case and are to be
sentenced tomorrow. Ruben Dario Venegas
Rivera, aka “Catracho,” 29; Jose Ismael Nava Villagran, aka “Cacho,” 35; Julian
Zapata Espinoza, aka “Piolin,” 36; and Alfredo Gaston Mendoza Hernandez, aka
“Camaron,” 34, pleaded guilty to federal murder and attempted murder charges
between August 2011 and October 2016.
The fifth defendant, Francisco Carbajal Flores, aka “Dalmata,” 42,
pleaded guilty in January 2012 to conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an
enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and to being an accessory
after the fact to the murder and attempted murder of the ICE HSI agents. All of the defendants are Mexican nationals,
with the exception of Venegas Rivera, who is from Honduras.
This case was investigated by
the FBI, with substantial assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Customs and
Border Protection; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; and
U.S. Marshals Service. The Government of
Mexico provided substantial assistance throughout the investigative and
prosecution phases of the case.
The case was prosecuted by
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. DiLorenzo and Fernando Campoamor-Sanchez of
the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of
Columbia and Trial Attorneys David Karpel and Karen Seifert of the Criminal
Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Narcotic and Dangerous Drug
Section. Former Assistant Deputy Chief
Andrea Goldbarg of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Assistant U.S.
Attorney Jocelyn Ballantine of the U.S. Attorney’s Office also served as
members of the prosecution team at earlier stages of the litigation. The Criminal Division’s Office of
International Affairs has provided substantial assistance.
Assistance also was provided
by Victim/Witness Advocate Yvonne Bryant, Victim/Witness Services Coordinator
Tonya Jones, Paralegal Specialist Mac Caille Petursson, and Intern Jake Yelin
of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Paralegal Specialist Alejandra Arias of the
Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section.
