Jose Rodolfo Villarreal-Hernandez (born January 16, 1978) is a Mexican drug cartel boss and former fugitive who was added to the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on October 13, 2020.[1] He was wanted for orchestrating the murder of Juan Jesús Guerrero Chapa,[2] which was carried out on May 22, 2013, in Southlake, Texas. He is also believed to be responsible for numerous murders in Mexico.[3] Villarreal-Hernandez was the 524th fugitive to be placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The United States Department of State's Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program offered a reward of up to $1 million for information leading directly to his arrest.[4] He was captured on January 7, 2023.[5]
| Jose Rodolfo Villarreal-Hernandez | |
|---|---|
.png) A photo of Jose Rodolfo Villarreal-Hernandez, taken in 2016 and published by the FBI | |
| FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive | |
| Charges | |
| Reward | $1,000,000 |
| Alias | "El Gato" |
| Description | |
| Born | January 16, 1978 Mexico |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) |
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
| Status | |
| Added | October 13, 2020 |
| Caught | January 7, 2023 |
| Number | 524 |
| Captured | |
Background
editVillarreal-Hernandez was born in Mexico on January 16, 1978. He was a leader of the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel. A few years prior to the 2013 murder of Juan Jesús Guerrero Chapa, Villarreal-Hernandez's father was murdered by the Gulf Cartel, a rival cartel to the Beltrán-Leyva, with whom they had an ongoing feud. Guerrero, who was a lawyer, was reportedly associated with the Gulf Cartel, and represented the Gulf Cartel leader Osiel Cárdenas Guillén. Villarreal-Hernandez blamed Guerrero personally for the death of his father and sought revenge.[6]
Murder of Juan Jesús Guerrero Chapa
editVillarreal-Hernandez hired a crew to assassinate Guerrero. By May 2013, Guerrero was living in Southlake, Texas, and was now a U.S. informant who was cooperating with law enforcement. Because of this, he was allowed to live legally in the United States. Villarreal-Hernandez sent a crew from Mexico to track and locate Guerrero. He was eventually located and found to be living in Southlake.[7]
On the evening of May 22, 2013, two hitmen working for Villarreal-Hernandez, known only as Clorox and Captain, tracked Guerrero and his wife in their vehicle, as they drove to Southlake Town Square.[8] Around 6:47 p.m., Guerrero climbed into the front passenger seat of his burgundy Range Rover while his wife placed bags into the back of the vehicle. The two assassins, driving a white Toyota Sequoia, pulled up behind them.[9] The passenger exited the vehicle wearing a hoodie and a bandanna and fired multiple rounds from a 9mm handgun at Guerrero. Guerrero was shot in his side and back before slumping motionless against the front seats. The shooter returned to the car and the assassins escaped. Guerrero was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. His wife escaped the shooting unharmed.[10]
Investigation
editThree men who were connected to the assassination plot have since been arrested for their involvement in the crime.[11] The two assassins remain at large.[12] According to witness testimony, Guerrero's sister took revenge against Villarreal-Hernandez by having one of his relatives beheaded.[13] He was then sent a video of the severed head.[14]
Villarreal-Hernandez remained in hiding and was wanted by the FBI for interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. He was believed to be hiding in Mexico. A reward of up to $1 million was available for information leading to his arrest.[15]
Villarreal-Hernandez was arrested in Mexico City, Mexico, on January 7, 2023.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Jose Rodolfo Villarreal-Hernandez". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ "Southlake Town Square Murder Suspect Added To FBI's 10 Most Wanted List". 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ "Cartel boss who's thought to be behind Southlake Town Square murder is added to FBI's Ten Most Wanted list". The Dallas Morning News. October 13, 2020.
- ^ "Jose Rodolfo Villarreal-Hernandez Added to Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List". FBI. October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ a b "Mexican cartel leader "El Gato," wanted for alleged role in 2013 Texas murder-for-hire plot, arrested in Mexico". CBS. January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ "Cartel Killing Trial Under Way in Texas". Courthouse News Service. April 29, 2016.
- ^ "Slain Lawyer for Mexican Drug Cartel Apparently Was U.S. Informant". The Wall Street Journal. April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Mexican man sentenced to 2 life sentences for his role in North Texas murder in May 2013". ice.gov. December 2, 2016.
- ^ "Last of Three Defendants Convicted for Role in Murder of Southlake, Texas, Man is Sentenced". United States Department of Justice. December 6, 2016.
- ^ "The Cartel Next Door". Texas Monthly. October 2018.
- ^ "Murder-For-Hire of Cartel Attorney Leads to 2 Life Sentences". Courthouse News Service. December 2, 2016.
- ^ "FBI adds drug cartel leader accused of ordering Southlake murder to most wanted list". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 13, 2020.
- ^ "Testimony: Beheading carried out as vengeance for slaying of drug cartel lawyer in Southlake". The Dallas Morning News. April 29, 2016.
- ^ "Southlake lawyer's sister sent beheading video to El Gato, witness says". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. April 29, 2016. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
- ^ "FBI offering $1 million reward for info on Southlake murder-for-hire suspect". WFAA. October 13, 2020. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023.