Longtime Tijuana Cartel Money Launderer Killed by Sinaloans in Ensenada

"MX" for Borderland Beat

Fausto González Michel

Last week, suspected members of the Sinaloa Cartel murdered businessman Fausto González Michel in Ensenada, Baja California. Investigators identified him as a longtime money launderer for the Tijuana Cartel who had ran multiple businesses for them since the 1990s.

At the time of his death, he ran a metal recycling business, a freight business and several junkyards that laundered money for the cartel. González Michel was also involved in politics. He was linked to the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) political party and was close with Ensenada's mayor Armando Ayala Robles.

Background

On 23 September 2019, González Michel and other people who were part of the Ensenada junk yard association issued a complaint to authorities that they had received death threats from Víctor Manuel Padilla ("El Chatarras"), a recycling business owner linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. Businessmen stated that El Chatarras was ordering them to pay protection racket payments in order to operate their junk yards. González Michel owned at least four junk yards: Gonzalez, Ancla, Centinela and Las Perritas.

González Michel was also a freight business owner. His involvement in this industry dates back to at least April 1990. Borderland Beat was able to find a record of him in the U.S. Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) register. He had a truck with vehicle identification number (VIN) MX-229961. According to Quick Transport Solutions, a California-based company that provides truck information, González Michel also had one truck registered under the U.S. Department of Transportation. He was registered as an active carrier from a freight company based out of Tijuana. He owned one truck under USDOT Number 558182.  

According to Ensenada Zona Roja, González Michel was being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury for facilitating drug trafficking activities and providing financial assistance to the Tijuana Cartel. He was also linked to businessman José Luis Arce ("El Rapido"), who reportedly pays hitmen and state police officers working with the Tijuana Cartel.

Gonzalez Michel helped throughout the campaign of Ensenada mayor Armando Ayala Robles. The mayor reportedly received MXN$2 million (US$85K) from the cartel while running for office.

Murder

At around 8:15 a.m. on 30 March 2020, González Michel drove to an Oxxo convenience store in Arcoíris neighborhood. As he parked with his Ford Lobo pick-up truck and got off his vehicle, gunmen approached him and gunned him down. He died at the scene.

González Michel's body next to his pick-up truck

Police officers and paramedics were called to assist but they confirm upon arrival that González Michel was already dead. Authorities found more than MXN$200,000 (close to US$8,500) in cash inside the vehicle.

Murders reported in the port city of Ensenada are a direct result of the turf war between the Sinaloa Cartel and the Tijuana Cartel, who compete for control of the retail drug sales and port facilities in the region.

Police officers confirmed that González Michel was likely killed by the Sinaloa Cartel in the aftermath of the arrest of David López Jiménez ("Cabo 20" and/or "El Lobo"). López Jiménez was responsible for leading the Tijuana Cartel's incursion into Ensenada, which increased homicides through all of March. Most of Ensenada is under the control of the Sinaloa Cartel.