“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
A Laredo resident has been convicted of a drug conspiracy and a murder-for-hire plot involving the Cartel Del Noreste, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said on Dec. 15.
The jury deliberated for about an hour following a three-day trial before convicting Noe Gonzalez-Martinez, also known as “Tocayo,” of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, murder-for-hire conspiracy, murder for hire, conspiracy to kidnap, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking related crime and interstate travel in aid of racketeering.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos presided over the trial and set sentencing for March 25. Gonzalez-Martinez faces up to life in federal prison. He will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jose Angel Moreno and Steven Chamberlin prosecuted the case.
During trial, the jury heard that between Sept. 7, 2021, and Sept. 13, 2021, Gonzalez-Martinez, a leader and manager of the CDN, and several other CDN members traveled from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, into Laredo.
Gonzalez-Martinez then solicited the help of other CDN affiliates to recruit, plan and coordinate the kidnapping and murder of an individual the Cartel believed had stolen from them, according to authorities.
“The investigation revealed Gonzalez-Martinez communicated via cellphone with co-conspirators to plan and coordinate the recovery of drugs and proceeds from the intended victim. In addition, Gonzalez-Martinez provided co-conspirators with an address where they could retrieve firearms and a vehicle to execute the murder,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The co-conspirators took possession of an automobile and firearms on Sept. 13 to carry out the murder. The firearms were a Colt Government Model caliber .45 pistol, Trooper MKIII caliber .357 magnum revolver, Bushmaster caliber .223-5.56 mm rifle and a Colt AR-15 A2 caliber .223, authorities said.
During an undercover operation, law enforcement set up the arrest of three “sicarios” who were crossed into Laredo by the CDN. Jurors also heard how authorities detailed their investigation into the cellphones used by the CDN to commit this crime.
“A co-conspirator provided insider knowledge of the CDN and its operations. Additionally, he admitted to the jury he was a sicario, a hired killer for the CDN and his participation in the crime,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Co-conspirators Juan Antonio Martinez-Padilla, also known as Juan Antonio Martinez-Lopez or Otoniel Martinez-Padilla, 58; Gregorio Gonzalez-Barragan, 33; and Rodolfo Reyna-Zapata, 25 — all from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico — had previously pleaded guilty to the kidnapping conspiracy and are pending sentencing.
