Texas-Based Los Zetas Cartel Leader Sentenced to Life in Prison

A key leader of the Los Zetas cartel structure in Texas responsible for overseeing cocaine and cash distribution into San Antonio, Houston, and Waco has been sentenced to life in prison.

Convicted Los Zetas member Luis Felipe “El Vaquero” Rodriguez went before U.S. District Judge Alia Moses in Del Rio, Texas who sentenced him to one life term in prison, information provided to Breitbart Texas by the U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed

Rodriguez was originally arrested in Eagle Pass, Texas, in 2014 as part of an ongoing investigation into the smuggling of drugs by Los Zetas from Piedras Negras into key cities in Texas, as well as the smuggling of cash from those cities to Mexico.

Court records obtained by Breitbart Texas revealed that Rodriguez controlled a group of runners who used hidden compartments near their vehicles’ engines in order to move large quantities of cocaine north and move drug proceeds south.

After his arrest, Rodriguez fought the charges in court and was found guilty after a one day trial in September 2015. The charges against Rodriguez included conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, bulk cash smuggling, and conspiracy to launder money.

The Los Zetas Cartel is considered one of Mexico’s most dangerous criminal organizations and largely responsible for the waves of cartel violence that have spread throughout that country–and in various cases spilled over the border.

Earlier this year, Breitbart Texas published the results of a three month investigation into how Los Zetas kidnapped, murdered and incinerated approximately 300 victims including women and children from the small town of Allende. Half of the victims were incinerated inside the state prison in Piedras Negras, Coahuila. While Mexican authorities have gone after  some low level Zetas, prison officials and other government officials have avoided scrutiny.

Los Zetas Vaquero by ildefonso ortiz on Scribd

Ildefonso Ortiz is an award winning journalist with Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Cartel Chronicles project and you can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook.