The United States Attorney’s Office has confirmed that the Mexicans, former leaders of the Los Zetas criminal network and facing four charges for organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms possession, are no longer facing the death penalty, but instead face life imprisonment. Evidence is mounting against them, including information that has come directly from the Mexican government.
Z-40 and Z-42 appeared at their criminal follow-up hearing in federal court in Washington, DC, on October 14, as part of the indictment against them for leading the criminal network that plagued northeastern Mexico since its founding in the early 2000s. First as security chiefs for Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, leader of the Gulf Cartel, and later as an independent cartel.
Miguel Ángel Treviño, known as El Z-40, was presented wearing a blue jumpsuit and a long-sleeved white T-shirt. His brother, Omar, known as El Z-42, arrived wearing a green jumpsuit, looking considerably more haggard than his last appearance. He now had a long, gray beard and short, unkempt hair. Thin and confused, he listened to the prosecution explain the progress of the case against him and reviewed a copy of the criminal file given to him by one of his lawyers.
The third defendant, Alfredo Rangel Buendía, alias El Chicles, a former commander of Los Zetas, wore an orange jumpsuit with a white T-shirt underneath.
The three greeted Judge McFadden almost in unison when he entered the courtroom. “Good morning, Your Honor,” echoed the entire courtroom. And the hearing began.
“I’d like to know where we stand,” Judge McFadden said.
According to prosecutor David Smith, who represented the Department of Justice, they have gradually provided more incriminating evidence to the Mexican defense, including intercepted communications, Blackberry messages, and a drug seizure in Dallas, Texas, linked to the Zetas’ operation on US soil. They are also receiving information from other countries, such as Mexico, as part of the bilateral agreement between the two countries on cooperation against crime.
