Suspected cartel leader behind 2013 Southlake lawyer's murder extradited to US
Man linked to Southlake murder headed to U.S. trial
The man wanted for ordering the murder of a Southlake lawyer is one of several people extradited to the U.S. by Mexico. Here's what we know.
SOUTHLAKE, Texas - The suspected mastermind behind the 2013 killing of a Southlake lawyer is expected to appear in a Texas federal court after U.S. officials secured custody of nearly 30 defendants from Mexico facing charges related to violence and drug trafficking.
The murder of Juan Guerrero Chapa
The backstory:
The fatal shooting happened in May 2013 in a Southlake Town Square parking lot. Investigators say José Rodolfo Villarreal-Hernández ordered the killing of Juan Guerrero Chapa, a lawyer who had become a government informant after working for another cartel.
Guerrero was shot and killed inside his SUV while his wife was nearby. Authorities believe Villarreal-Hernández held a personal grudge against him.
Who is José Rodolfo Villarreal-Hernández?
Dig deeper:
Villarreal-Hernández, also known as "El Gato," is the alleged leader of the Beltrán Leyva drug cartel, according to the FBI. He was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list in October 2020 and was arrested by Mexican authorities in June 2023.
He has been indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas on charges of interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit murder for hire, according to federal prosecutors.
Ramón Villarreal-Hernández mugshot.
Three men were previously arrested and charged with stalking Guerrero before his death. Villarreal-Hernández’s brother, Ramón Villarreal-Hernández, pleaded guilty in 2022 for his role in the murder. However, the shooter and getaway driver remain at large.
U.S. secures custody of wanted defendants
What's next:
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday that it has secured custody of 29 defendants from Mexico. The suspects face charges including drug trafficking, murder, illegal use of firearms, and racketeering, according to officials.
Many of those taken into custody are believed to be cartel leaders. The move is part of ongoing U.S. efforts to dismantle cartel operations, under the Trump Administration.
The Source: Information in this article comes from an official statement made by the U.S. Department of Justice.