‘El Haza,’ implicated in attack on Ciro Gómez Leyva, sentenced to 11 years in prison

The supervisory judge of the Federal Criminal Justice Center at the Northern Prison, Edmundo Perusquía Cabañas, issued a sentence of 11 years and one month in prison against Erick Hazael Ramos Mendoza, alias “El Haza” or “El Gordo,” after finding him criminally responsible for the crimes of attempted aggravated homicide and aggravated criminal association in the attack on journalist Ciro Gómez Leyva.

According to information provided by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) and the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Human Rights (FEMDH), on the night of December 15, 2022, Ramos Mendoza was driving the motorcycle carried by the hitman who shot journalist Héctor Martínez Jiménez, alias El Bart, who has already been sentenced to 14 years in prison.

The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) reported that the MPF and the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes against Freedom of Expression (FEADLE) also participated, providing evidence to enable the judge in charge of the case, based at the Federal Criminal Justice Center in the North Prison, to issue a sentence of 11 years and one month in prison against Ramos Mendoza.

The autonomous agency indicated that 12 people have been convicted so far for their participation in the criminal association that planned and executed the attack on Gómez Leyva.

On the night of December 15, the journalist was heading home in southern Mexico City when he was shot nine times from a motorcycle, with the participation of others from a car that served as a barrier.

In the present case, the Attorney General’s Office indicated, the FEADLE (Federal Attorney General’s Office) decided to exercise the power of attraction provided for in Article 21 of the National Code of Criminal Procedure, since it was proven that the crime was committed with the purpose of limiting, impairing, and affecting his free exercise of the right to freedom of expression.