November 18, 2011 9:55 PM, THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/authorities-133890-laundering-grand.html

Less than a month after he was arrested for presenting fraudulent identification to authorities, a federal grand jury in Brownsville returned a four-count indictment against Gulf Cartel “Plaza Boss” Rafael Cardenas Vela.

Cardenas Vela was indicted on Friday for participating in drug and money laundering conspiracies, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

He is charged with possession with intent to deliver more than 11 pounds of cocaine and more than 2,204 pounds of marijuana, and procuring a fraudulent Mexican passport and United States visa.

The indictment alleges that Cardenas Vela, also known as Junior, Comandante and Rolex, served as a principal leader of the Gulf Cartel criminal enterprise in Matamoros. Authorities allege the Gulf Cartel moved massive quantities of cocaine and marijuana from Mexico to the United States.

Authorities allege the organization used encoded written documents, aliases and call signs to conceal its operations and the names of its members from law enforcement agencies.

It is also alleged that Cardenas Vela and other Gulf Cartel members purchased bulletproof vests, automatic weapons, grenades, homemade cannon and body armor, and used the weapons to control the Mexican drug corridor it has been battling for with the Zetas drug cartel.

Cardenas Vela, a Mexican national, was arrested last month in Port Isabel during a traffic stop. He was taken into custody after he presented fraudulent identification to authorities. He is the nephew of Osiel Cardenas Guillen, former leader of the Gulf Cartel, and the late Ezequiel "Tony Tormenta" Cardenas Guillen.

Osiel Cardenas Guillen was convicted of federal drug charges in 2010. Ezequiel "Tony Tormenta" Cardenas Guillen died in a shootout in Matamoros in November 2010.

The indictment alleges that from January 2000 to October 2011, Cardenas Vela, along with Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sanchez, also known as El Cos, and other unindicted co-conspirators, helped manage and maintain drug distribution cells in the United States that acted as smaller operational units for the larger organizations.

The cell organizations were located throughout the U.S. as well as in Brownsville, McAllen and Houston.

The Gulf Cartel, as led in part by Cardenas Vela, also participated in the collection and transportation of millions of dollars in the U.S., which are believed to be proceeds from drug sales, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reports.

Authorities report that once the money was collected, it was transported to Mexico to further the drug enterprise. In order to conceal the narcotics and money, the organization allegedly utilized vehicles with hidden compartments.

The indictment states that in 2000, Cardenas Vela served as the “plaza boss,” or area director, for the Gulf Cartel of San Fernando, Tamps., Mexico, and became the plaza boss of the Rio Bravo area of Tamaulipas about two years ago.

In 2010, Cardenas Vela became part of a internal power struggle for control of the Matamoros plaza with an undicted co-conspirator following the death of Tony Tormenta, who at that time was in control of the Matamoros plaza, authorities reported. In March, Cardenas Vela assumed control of the Matamoros plaza, they said.

If convicted of the charges, Cardenas Vela would have to forfeit properties that authorities believe were used in the criminal operations or purchased with the drug proceeds, court documents state. This includes a home in Brownsville and another in Rio Hondo, plus $20 million in cash.

The indictment against Cardenas Vela was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson and Jerry Robinette, special-agent-in-charge for Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations, and Thomas E. Hinojosa, acting special-agent-in-charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Cardenas Vela remains in federal custody without bail pending further court proceedings.