The criminal career of "El Betito" and his Family

Translated by El Profe for Borderland Beat from La Silla Rota

                     
Since the 90s, relatives such as sisters and brothers-in-law have dedicated themselves to committing crimes and taking over real estate.

By Antonio Nieto

The criminal career of Roberto Maldonado López or Roberto Mollado Esparza "El Betito," leader of the La Unión de la B, can be explained from the criminal history of his family.

Composed of 10 siblings, 8 of them women, and numerous brothers-in-law and nephews, the family of "El Betito " has been the dominant criminal group in the Guerrero neighborhood for decades.

According to the report " La Unión", prepared by the Center for Research and National Security (CISEN), this family is related to robberies, kidnappings, crimes against health and taking over territory since the 90s.

The head, in addition to "El Betito," is his sister Rosana and his older brothers Ramón Mariano and José Arturo Mauro "El Pepe," the latter arrested with "El Betito" last August in Jardines del Pedregal.

                      

  

"El Pepe," according to the documents, was in prison in 1998 for carrying firearms and qualified robbery, although 9 months later he was acquitted and released.

However, in 2001 he was again admitted to the Reclusorio Oriente, also for carrying weapons for the exclusive use of the Army and qualified robbery.

He obtained his freedom barely a day after his entry into prison, as he paid bail.

Federal authorities attribute to him dozens of properties, one of them in a subdivision of Monterrey, Nuevo León.

His other brother, Ramón Mariano, was imprisoned for 8 years, after being sentenced in 2000 for qualified robbery.

He is not attributed to be a decisive role within the criminal organization of his brothers, but he is also a resident of the Guerrero neighborhood, where he owns grocery stores.

Of his eight sisters, based on the Cisen file,  Maria Elizabeth "La China" is highlighted, who has two entries into prison; the first in 1999, accused of qualified robbery.

In 2000 she was sentenced to 10 years in prison and after being relocated to different prisons, on December 4, 2006,  she was released by partial reduction of the sentence.

The father of her children, Ricardo C., was imprisoned in 1999, 2009 and 2011 for robbery.

Another sister of " El Betito," Rosana, was imprisoned in 1995 for simple theft. She was sentenced to 4 years and 11 months, but was released five months later.

The investigations also discuss their role in taking over real estate.

For her part, Ana Lilia is romantically linked to Rommel C., imprisoned in the Reclusorio Norte in 2004 for robbery and deprivation of liberty. In 2011 she served her sentence.

María Guadalupe was recently arrested in September with drugs, but for the small amount she paid bail and was released without being imprisoned.

The father of her son, stated in the federal report, was interned in the Reclusorio Sur in 1995 for crimes against health; in 2009 he died by hanging.

"El Betito" is currently being held, along with his brother José Arturo Mauro, in a Veracruz prison, charged with organized crime, crimes against health, and possession of a firearm.