Post by Scumhunter on Feb 4, 2016 16:45:47 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: kfoxtv.com)
The U.S. Marshals Service is looking for a former El Paso elementary school teacher whose sister and brothers were charged in a murder-for-hire plot linked to drug trafficking in Juárez.
Monica Velasco, 42, was indicted by a federal grand jury. Last fall, her sister and two brothers were charged in connection with a murder-for-hire plot in the killing of a man and his two daughters in 2008 in Juárez.
Velasco is wanted on federal charges of conspiracy linked to racketeering, drug trafficking, money laundering and conspiracy to kidnap in a foreign country.
Last week, the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force nearly captured Velasco at a home on Safford Court in the Lower Valley, but she left before deputies arrived, a U.S. Marshals spokesman said Wednesday.
Velasco, who is 5 feet 3 inches tall, 115 pounds, is featured on wanted signs on billboards on the East Side.
Authorities suspect Velasco is still in El Paso. She has family on the East Side and her family owns a shoe store on Alameda Avenue, officials said.
"She was an elementary school teacher, a quiet lady and I guess she got wrapped up in all this with her family," said Deputy Scott Williams of the Marshals Service. "She's afraid of going to jail, but her family said that she is more afraid of going to Juárez."
Velasco was a teacher at Thomas Manor Elementary in the Lower Valley. In September, she abruptly quit her job and moved out of her home in the 1200 block of Franklin Perch Place on the West Side, the Marshals Service said.
That same month, Velasco's sister, Dalia Valencia, and her brothers, Emmanuel and Samuel Velasco Gurrola, were indicted after being accused of allegedly paying someone to kill a man and his two daughters in Juárez.
On Oct. 3, 2008, Francisco Maria Sagredo Villareal, 69, was shot in his Juárez home, according to El Paso Times archives.
On Nov. 20, 2008, his daughter, Cinthia Judith Sagredo Escobedo, 40, was fatally shot outside a Juárez hotel. Two days later, Ruth Sagredo was killed by gunmen while she was driving a car in the funeral procession for Cinthia Sagredo on Cuatro Siglos Boulevard in Juárez.
Ruth Sagredo was a nurse practitioner at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. Ruth Sagredo’s lawyer had told the El Paso Times that her death was possibly linked to domestic problems. Ruth Sagredo was married to Samuel Velasco.
A superseding indictment accuses the three siblings of belonging to the Velasco criminal enterprise involved in kidnappings for ransom, extortion, auto theft and drug trafficking. The three siblings pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to go to trial in September.
Anyone with information on Monica Velasco may call the U.S. Marshals Service at (915) 534-6679.
www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/crime/2016/02/04/ex-teacher-sought-racketeering-case/79800614/
Thoughts? A few technical notes first- There is a small town in Texas called Juarez but I'm almost certain in this case this is the city in Mexico since when I googled streets and hotels mentioned in articles, Juarez, Mexico came up. (I assume Monica and her siblings were able to be charged in the U.S. since the plan originated in Texas). Also, 2008 is when the three homicides occurred. However, Monica was apparently only charged last September in relation to her charges. (I could be reading this wrong, but it appears Monica is accused of being part of the family operation and not specifically the three homicides themselves) I added this as breaking news with the new articles about the Marshals hunting her coming out in the last few days.
Anyway, this is obviously a crazy case. Yet Monica apparently stayed hidden in Texas initially. You have to wonder if she's really going to try to cross the border since she's said to be afraid of Juarez. (Considering the alleged crimes she's involved with, I'd be afraid too if I were her.) Whether Velasco is in the U.S., dared to go into Mexico, or is somewhere else, she's someone that needs to be captured immediately, so if you know anything, be careful, but please call the U.S. Marshals if you have any information.
Other relevant links:
www.kfoxtv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/Ex-teacher-wanted-by-U-S-Marshals-in-murder-for-hire-plot-252593.shtml
www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/crime/2015/09/25/3-charged-juarez-murder-hire-plot/72839970/
www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2016/01/27/rico-case-against-three-siblings-set-trial/79375622/
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