If It Is The Least Consolation...

[MEXICOWANDERER]

The gunman that carjacked the Canadian Rainbirds Jeep, is now way down in the basement shoveling coal for eternity.

I don't believe this "chisme" (gossip) to be idle rumor. There was a massive gunfight just outside of Caleta de Campos, Michoacan a few days ago and the rurales killed more than a dozen sicarios (gun men) at a huge roadblock. One of the -no longer with us- is strongly believed to be -the one- that robbed the Jeep. His name was "Carlos". I believe what my family tells me, not what some yellow journalism website or mass media conjures up.

The "Self Defense Forces" are going house-to-house, routing crooks, drug dealers and scumbags. From Cerro de Ortega to Lazaro Cardenas, hundreds of Templarios have been shot or arrested or fled into the mountains. Rumor has it over TEN THOUSAND gente are taking part in this flushing of the toilet.

Every last PJE, state cop has been fired. Weapons confiscated. Policias Preventivas del municipios (like sheriff deputies) have been forcibly removed from duty, weapons confiscated. Presidentes de municipios have been indicted by the federal attorney general. Same with ministerio publicos. The MP who did the paperwork on the rainbirds Jeep is history. He was an employee of the Templarios.

A massive effort of Marinas and Rurales have cleaned out Playa Azul, La Mira, Arteaga, and are now headed for Lazaro Cardenas.

Enough! Michoacan is one of the nicest, most beautiful states in la republica. I do not expect the governor and his lackeys to survive the most massive cleanup in recent Mexico history. When the public effort gets finished, the state will be cleaner and safer than any other. The rurales are NOT going to go away. They are going to keep working with los marinas and el ejercito until this state is safe for tourism once again.

WHY? You ask, am I so emotional about this? in the parking lot of Bodega Aurrera, with my two grand daughters, a gunfight took place in the street and edge of the parking lot. A bullet chipped concrete and has left a scar across my forehead. It's been this way for five years now. Dalia age 5 wet herself so bad and Pilar kept screaming te sangrear (you are bleeding!) My face and shirt front was soaked in blood. Cinco puntas (five stitches).

I realize some of you could care less. This is your right. But others may be interested in knowing what actually is taking place. Michoacan is a place of peace and beauty. The templarios are learning this the most hardest of ways.

[Canadian_Rainbi]

Thanks to MW for his info. Interesting reading, hope that Michoacan can sort its self out. It is in our opinion the most beautiful coastline anywhere. It will take a lot of investment in honest effort, cash and training. As long as there is poverty, and lack of effective policing robbery and violence will occur.

But I have to agree with Tequila, at least on the face of it. There may be other problems arising from legalising drugs but I don't see how they can be much worse than the current situation.

Re the Jeep: Qualitas told us in an email last week that they hoped to get a copy of the Jeep import permit (from who we don't know) by Fiday and then they hope to be able to send our cheque this week. Would be nice!

A local Jeep dealer told us that a new 4 door Jeep Rubicon worth $45,000.00. here would be $72,000.00 in Mexico. Our replacement won't be worth anything close to that!

[Tequila]

They need to legalize them in the US, make the US government the supplier, and remove the main consumer from the equation. The market in Mexico itself is miniscule. Did you know that Portugal which has legalized drugs, now has the lowest rate of drug use in the EU? IMO, we have been approaching this problem all wrong. Legalize them, tax them, use some of the funds for treatment and jail and throw away the key for anyone caught selling them to kids.

My stepson has been a crack addict, BTW.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

The mechanics of legalization. It is claimed with mouths frothing, that legalization of Mexican (all) marijuana will end violence.

LINKAGE
Cartels pay cops, cops ignore public security. Thieves throw gigantic pachangas because they can come and clean your clock with impunity.

LEGALIZATION IS NOT THE CURE ALL
Public pressure, peer pressure, whatever it takes to boycott drugs from areas that have criminals that kill and prey upon innocent civilians IS THE ANSWER.

IF YOU LOVE THE THRILL OF GUESSING WHETHER OR NOT A GUN WILL BE STUCK IN YOUR FACE OR SEEING THE TAIL LIGHTS OF YOUR VEHICLE AS IT DRIVES AWAY, then please ignore this. Ignore and ignorance are closely related words.

Let's get back to the subject at hand "What Me Worry?" Enjoy RV'ing Mexico.

[Francesca_Knowl]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:

To understand the farce behind the argument of legalizing drugs, and violence will stop is a cut and paste article an English speaking friend has sent me from Polánco México. My issue is not with whether or not smoking mota is right or wrong. My issue is believing something that is utterly false and thinking that by legalization, violence will stop.

I'm having a hard time linking that statement to the article you posted. I read it very carefully, and it looks to me like it has nothing whatever to do with Mexico-?

The property, the business named, and presumably all the indictees are based in Colorado; as were all but one of the banks they were evidently using to launder money through the business (A so-called "Medical Marijuana grow/dispensary). The only SA mention at all is that they also used a bank based in Colombia.

What part of the indictment involves criminality in Mexico???

[MEXICOWANDERER]

One of the most hotly debated asuntos (subjects) in the United States is "Why Does Mexico Not Stop The Drugs From Coming To the United States?"

The reason, is the United States cannot stop the flow of railroad train cars full of cash and weapons entering Mexico.

Drugs, Mexico and safety have conspired to reduce visits by motor vehicle by half when border crossing day trips have been eliminated from the total. This has hurt a lot of paisanos.

To understand the farce behind the argument of legalizing drugs, and violence will stop is a cut and paste article an English speaking friend has sent me from Polánco México. My issue is not with whether or not smoking mota is right or wrong. My issue is believing something that is utterly false and thinking that by legalization, violence will stop.

Here is the article. And this is the last post about things not Michoacan I shall make. This is to vent my frustration. Thank You




DENVER – Hector Diaz, age 49, David Jeffrey Furtado, age 48, Luis Fernand Uribe, age 28, and Gerardo Uribe, age 33, were named in a just unsealed superseding indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in Denver on April 22, 2014, federal law enforcement agencies announced. The superseding indictment alleges violations of federal firearms law and money laundering related to marijuana laws. Diaz, who was previously charged, was sent a summons to appear in court Wednesday, April 30, 2014. Furtado and Luis Uribe were arrested on Friday, April 25, 2014. Furtado and Luis Uribe made their initial appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Boyd N. Boland, where they were advised of their rights and the charges pending against them. Gerardo Uribe has been charged but is not in custody. He is currently considered a fugitive from justice. Furtado, Luis Uribe, and Hector Diaz are scheduled to be back in court on Wednesday, April 30, 2014.

The superseding indictment includes the original charge that Hector Diaz illegally possessed a firearm. The superseding indictment further alleges that Diaz committed visa fraud by making a false statement regarding the purpose of his visit to the United States.

The superseding indictment alleges that all four defendants conspired with each other and others known and unknown to the grand jury, to commit offenses against the United States. The manner and means of their conspiracy include:

· Affect the international transfer of funds from the Republic of Colombia into the United States to facilitate the purchase of real property, with existing physical structures, located at 5200 East Smith Road, in Denver, Colorado.

· The defendants intended to permit the use of the Smith Road property to cultivate, manufacture, and/or distribute marijuana.

· In 2013, Gerardo Uribe filed documents with the Colorado Secretary of State to incorporate a company known as Colorado West Metal, LLC. Attorney David Furtado was the registered agent. Hector Diaz was listed as the person responsible for forming the corporation.

· Furtado opened a bank account at Wells Fargo in the name of Colorado West Metal, LLC, and was the sole signor on that account.

· Furtado used his attorney trust account, held in the name of his law firm, to facilitate the purchase of the Smith Road property.

· It was part of the conspiracy for Furtado, Gerardo Uribe and Hector Diaz to communicate regarding a wire transfer associated with Colorado West Metal, which was later used to purchase the Smith Road property.

· On November 7, 2013, Furtado transferred $424,000 from the Colorado West Metal Wells Fargo account to a Colorado First Bank account, held in the name of Land Title Guarantee Company.

· The conspirators caused and/or agreed for Land Title Guarantee Company to transfer those same funds to Westerra Credit Union – the mortgagor for the Smith Road property.

· Between November 1, 2013 and November 4, 2013, Furtado made and caused to be made two separate wire transfers in the amount of $200,000 each from his attorney trust account into the Colorado First Bank account in the name of Land Title Guarantee to facilitate the purchase of the Smith Road property.

· Members of the conspiracy deposited, and attempted to deposit into financial institutions, and/or converted to cashier’s checks and/or bulk U.S. currency (cash) to facilitate the purchase of the Smith Road property. These bulk currency amounts included proceeds from the cultivation and sale of marijuana.

· On October 31, 2013, Furtado met with Gerardo Uribe and obtained $449,980 in U.S. currency (cash). Those funds represented proceeds of specified unlawful activity, namely the cultivation and sale of marijuana, as derived through the operation of the “VIP Wellness Center”, operated by Gerardo Uribe, Luis Uribe and others.

The superseding indictment also alleges that Diaz, Furtado and Gerardo Uribe did transfer $424,000 using wire transfers from the Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argenteria (BVVA) in the Republic of Colombia to the Colorado West Metal, LLC Wells Fargo account with the intent to cultivate, manufacture and distribute marijuana. Also, Furtado did two wire transfers, one for $100,000 and a second for $20,000 from the Banco de Occidente, in the Republic of Colombia, to his attorney trust account with Wells Fargo in Colorado, with the intent to promote the cultivation, manufacture and distribution of marijuana.

Finally, Furtado, Luis Uribe and Gerardo Uribe did knowingly engage in money laundering by and through a financial institution affecting interstate and foreign commerce, in criminally derived property greater than $10,000; that is, the attempted deposit of $449,980 in U.S. Currency (cash) into a Wells Fargo bank account, with such property having been derived from a specified unlawful activity, namely the cultivation, manufacture and distribution of marijuana.

The superseding indictment includes an asset forfeiture allegation, which includes the firearms possessed by Diaz, and the money derived from the unlawful activity, namely the cultivation, manufacture and distribution of marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance.

The investigation and charges closely follow the guidance provided by the Department of Justice in August 2013. More than one of the enforcement priorities outlined in the Department guidance are implicated in this ongoing criminal matter.

In the superseding indictment, Hector Diaz is named in counts one, two, three and four. David Furtado is named in counts three, four, five, six and seven. Luis Uribe is named in counts three and seven. Gerardo Uribe is named in counts three, four and seven.

Count one is possession of a firearm by a prohibited possessor. If convicted, the defendant faces not more than 10 years imprisonment, and up to a $250,000 fine. Count two is false statements with respect to a material fact. If convicted, the defendant faces not more than 20 years imprisonment, and up to a $250,000 fine. Count three is conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, the defendants face not more than 20 years imprisonment, and a $500,000 fine (or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater). Count four is money laundering and aiding and abetting the same. If convicted, the defendants face not more than 20 years imprisonment, and a $500,000 fine (or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater). Counts five and six are money laundering and aiding and abetting the same. If convicted, the defendants face not more than 20 years imprisonment, and a $500,000 fine (or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater). Count seven is engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. If convicted, the defendants face not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS CI), and the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Services (DSS). This investigation is ongoing, and no further information outside of the superseding indictment can or will be provided.

The defendants are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys M.J. Menendez and Bradley Giles. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tonya Andrews is handling the asset forfeiture aspect of this case.

[gbopp]

Thanks for the information. It's very interesting.
Please, keep us updated.

[GMandJM]

We DO care. Thanks for letting us know what's going on there. Be safe, Friend.