BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS — A federal judge on Monday sentenced a Gulf Cartel boss who turned government informant to 20 years in prison after he plead guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 11 pounds of cocaine and 2,200 pounds of marijuana, authorities said.
Rafael Cardenas Vela, whose nickname is “El Junior,” also admitted to being a part of this conspiracy around January 2000 until his capture by U.S. authorities on Oct. 20, 2011, officials said.
Cardenas Vela, 41, is the nephew of Osiel Cardenas Guillen, convicted of federal drug charges also in Texas in 2010, and Ezequiel “Tony Tormenta” Cardenas Guillen.
Cardenas admitted that he possessed 11 pounds of cocaine and 2,200 pounds of marijuana. He also said he had a 500, well-equipped men ready at his beck and call to do the Cartel’s business in many Mexican and U.S. cities.
During the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen also ordered Cardenas to forfeit $5 million and relinquish interest in property in Brownsville which was purchased with drug proceeds.
Cardenas Vela Testified for Three Days Against Another High Ranking Gulf Cartel Boss
During the hearing, the court heard that Cardenas Vela testified for three days in the drug trial of Juan Roberto Rincon Rincon, a former high ranking Plaza Boss for the Gulf Cartel of Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas.
In that trial, He described the command and control structure of the Gulf Cartel between 2002 and his arrest in 2011 as well as the creation of the Zetas drug trafficking organization and its’ split from the Gulf Cartel.
During his plea, Cardenas Vela—aka “Commandante 900” and “Rolex”—admitted he occupied a position as a one of the leaders of the Gulf Cartel, headquartered in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. It imports, warehouses, transports and distributes ton quantities of cocaine and marijuana from the Mexican States into the U.S.
Cardenas Vela and others helped manage cocaine and marijuana transportation and distribution cells in the U.S., which are smaller units within the larger organization.
Cells were located in various cities including but not limited to Houston, Brownsville and McAllen as well as in northern cities throughout the U.S, officials said.
The Gulf Cartel, as led in part by Cardenas Vela, also collected and transported millions of dollars from drug profits.
Once the drug proceeds were collected at various points within the U.S., the money would be transported to Mexico to finance the Gulf Cartel, authorities said.
Cardenas Vela the Plaza Boss
Cardenas Vela occupied a position as a “Plaza Boss” for the Gulf Cartel over the last several years in various places including San Fernando, Rio Bravo and Matamoros, Tamaulipas.
A Plaza Boss is the lead representative for the Gulf Cartel in a particular region or town and are in charge of maintaining control of the region for to ensure the safe passage of the Cartel’s narcotics.
The Plaza Boss also extracts a “piso” or payment by others who want to transport narcotics or operate businesses in that region. In order to do this, the Plaza Boss is responsible for making recurring bribe payments to Mexican law enforcement and local officials, as well as recruiting and controlling the Cartel’s employees in that region.
Cardenas Vela was the Plaza Boss for the San Fernando Tamaulipas region for several years leading up to his transfer to Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas in June 2010, according to his plea agreement.
San Fernando is an important thoroughfare in Northern Mexico and narcotics commonly pass through San Fernando on their way to Cartel collection points along the Rio Grande River.
In 2010, Cardenas Vela Assumed Leadership of Rio Bravo
In June 2010, Cardenas assumed Plaza Boss leadership of Rio Bravo, an area along the Rio Grande River east of Reynosa, Mexico.
Rio Bravo’s location on the United States-Mexico border has made it a common collection point for a good share of the Gulf Cartel’s narcotics prior to passage into this country. Cardenas Vela controlled the Rio Bravo Plaza until March 2011.
The internal struggle for power that began after the death of his uncle, Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen, in November 2010 continued within the Gulf Cartel. Cardenas Vela and his allies began to fight with elements associated with Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sanchez—aka El Cos, officials said.
It was during this struggle that Cardenas Vela ousted Jose Luis Zuniga, aka Wicho, from leadership of Matamoros and assumed control.
During this feud, the Zetas unsuccessfully attempted to gain control of the Control the Ramirez and Reynosa Plazas.
Cardenas Vela Flees Mexico to Escape Power Struggles
Cardenas ultimately fled into the U.S. in May 2011 to escape the power struggles in Northern Mexico and was able to maintain control of the Matamoros Plaza through the use of daily e-mails to key leadership within the Cartel.
On Oct. 20, 2011, Cardenas Vela was arrested in Port Isabel. Law enforcement seized cell phones and ledgers from Cardenas and from searches of residences.
A phone toll analysis demonstrated connectivity with several active and ongoing drug investigations and a ledger was also analyzed showed the personnel structure of people under Cardenas’ control along with the purchase of weapons, protective equipment, vehicles and gasoline for these vehicles, according to court evidence.
In an effort to conceal their illegal activities, this organization used the vehicles which had hidden compartments to smuggle cocaine, marijuana and currency.
The Cardenas elements of the Gulf Cartel would purchase up to 170 pounds of cocaine a month in southern Mexico. Small vehicles were utilized to transport smaller amounts of up to 40 pounds at a time, so as to reduce the risk of large seizures on the way to the Texas/Mexico border.
Codes and Call Signs Used to Shield Drug Activities from Law Enforcement
Members of the criminal enterprise encoded their written and oral drug related and conspiratorial communications to further shield themselves from law enforcement detection. They used aliases and call signs during their communications to protect their identities from law enforcement agencies.
The Cartel also bribed law enforcement authorities with cash and/or gifts to get information and protection.
Specifically, Rafael Cardenas Vela directed payments to people related to law enforcement in Mexico.
The Cartel also paid to equip its members, including the purchase of bullet proof vests, grenades, tactical vests, bullet proof vehicles, weapons, ammunition, cell phones, radios, and salaries.
In addition, “Guardias” maintain surveillance on the Mexican Military for the Gulf Cartel. Gulf Cartel members would also maintain video and audio to gather intelligence of law enforcement and rival gang’s activities.
At the time of Cardenas’ arrest, it was discovered that he had approximately 500 men equipped and ready to respond to his call.
Cardenas Vela stipulated that during his leadership, he contributed in excess of 300 pounds of cocaine and 2,200 pounds of of marijuana, during which he obtained at least $5 million in drug proceeds as a result of this conspiracy.