“Morogris” for Borderland Beat
 |
| Servando Gomez Martinez, also known as La Tuta, was once among the most-wanted drug kingpins in Mexico |
Servando Gómez Martínez, also known as La Tuta (The Teacher), the former leader of La Familia Michoacana and the Knights Templar Cartel, filed a complaint with a federal judge, alleging that he was subjected to torture and isolation during his imprisonment.
He specifically asserted that he had been subjected to “cruel and inhuman treatment, solitary confinement, segregation, and punishment.” He further accused authorities of “refusal to provide food, keeping him in isolation, and subjecting him to torture.”
La Tuta is presently incarcerated at the Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 1 (Altiplano), Mexico’s maximum-security prison.
This is not the first time La Tuta has complained about his prison conditions.
In 2021, he reported having inadequate clothing and shoes, leading him to request permission to bring in underwear, T-shirts, and footwear.
Subsequently, in January 2022, the court granted approval for him to receive psychiatric care and medication. This decision followed the diagnosis of the former criminal leader with anxiety disorder, headaches, and insomnia.
Background
Servando Gomez Martinez was born on February 6, 1966 in Arteaga, Michoacán. He is currently 57 years old.
Before entering drug trafficking he was a rural teacher and farmer, which is why another of his well-known nicknames is ‘El Profe’ (short for The Professor). Data indicates that in December 2010 he was still on the federal payroll due to his employment as a teacher.
La Tuta served as a leader of La Familia Michoacana, formerly one of the predominant criminal groups in Michoacán. During this time, he collaborated with Nazario Moreno González, also known as El Chayo.
However, following the splintering of this criminal group in 2011, he aligned himself with the emerging Caballeros Templarios (Knights Templar Cartel).
La Tuta was arrested in Morelia on February 27, 2015.
In 2019, he was sentenced to 55 years for kidnapping. In December 2022, he received a 47-year prison sentence for drug trafficking and organized crime involvement.
It is unclear whether La Tuta has a pending extradition warrant. While he does face charges in the US, it is unlikely that US authorities will vigorously pursue his extradition, given that the information he may provide through cooperation is likely outdated or no longer relevant in today’s criminal landscape.
A 2009 indictment from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) alleged that La Tuta was responsible for the murder-ambush of 12 Federal Police officers that year and implicated him in drug trafficking activities linked to the US.
Sources: Heraldo de Mexico; Milenio; Infobae; US Treasury; The Guardian; Borderland Beat Archives