The families of nine women and children killed in an ambush in Mexico have filed a lawsuit against the Juárez drug cartel that accuses it of the massacre last year.
The lawsuit by relatives of the
well-known LeBaron family of Chihuahua says they were targeted for their
activism and publicly speaking out against the cartel and corruption in Mexico.
The three women and six children
killed Nov. 4 were dual U.S.-Mexican citizens and members of the offshoot
Mormon communities of Colonia LeBaron in northwestern Chihuahua and La Mora in
Sonora state.
The lawsuit by Miller, Johnson
and LeBaron family members was filed July 23 in U.S. federal court in North
Dakota, where some of the families work and reside, splitting time in Mexico.
Two men whose wives were killed,
Howard J. Miller and Tyler Edward Johnson, are from North Dakota, the lawsuit
added.
Miller was the husband of Maria
Rhonita LeBaron. Johnson was married to Christina Langford Johnson.
The lawsuit lists as defendant
the Juárez drug cartel, aka the Vicente Carrillo Fuentes organization, aka CFO,
aka La Linea, without naming any individuals.
It is unlikely the cartel, which
operates in the shadows outside the law, will respond to the court proceedings.
The 51-page lawsuit provides a history
of the Juárez cartel and its violence, including a car bombing in Juárez and
the killings of three people linked to the U.S. Consulate in Juárez, both in
2010.
The lawsuit graphically details
the attack on the families at they traveled on a road controlled by La Linea on
their way to the Mormon community of Colonia LeBaron.
The attack occurred about 70 miles
south of the Arizona-Mexico border on a mountain road between the states of
Sonora and Chihuahua.
The Mexican government has
arrested at least three men and has identified 40 suspects in the massacre.
Cartel warfare
In the last week of October 2019,
about 100 men met at a ranch owned by a member of La Linea to plan an attack on
rival Sonora cartel members in Agua Prieta, the lawsuit states.
The plan was carried out on Nov.
4 by "cartel soldiers" dressed in civilian clothes, with some in
helmets, and armed with AK-47 and AR-15 rifles divided into two teams of 60 and
40 men.
Very early on Nov. 4, the larger
group attacked three homes and burned down two of them in an attack in Agua
Prieta, the lawsuit states.
The 40-man group split into 20
person teams at ambush spots on mountain roads between San Miguel and La Mora.
Families attacked on road
The families were traveling in a
convoy of three Chevrolet Suburbans heading to Colonia LeBaron before going
forward to Phoenix and North Dakota.
The attacks occurred at two
locations after one of the SUVs broke down, the lawsuit states. The family had
noticed that cellphone towers weren't working.
The vehicles were hit with heavy
gunfire, including a barrage lasting at least 10 minutes, by hit squads hidden
in hills, according to the lawsuit.
After being shot in the hip, one
of the women, Christina Langford Johnson, exited with her hands up as gunmen
continued firing, shooting her in the chest and killing her, the lawsuit
states.
The vehicles were struck by about
200 shots. Some of the children were found dead, hiding in fetal positions
between the seats, according to the lawsuit.
A door to one of the SUVs was
found opened and one of the victim's legs were out, indicating an attempt to
get out before being gunned down.
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Langford's 7-month-old baby was
strapped to a safety seat in the back. Bullets had struck her seat, but she was
not hit. The baby was found after spending 10 hours alone and was extremely
dehydrated, soaked in urine and in shock, the lawsuit states.
Drug cartel 'terrorism'
The civil lawsuit seeks a jury
trial and monetary damages on six claims, including assault and emotional
distress, and accuses the Juárez drug cartel of "terrorism."
"The Juarez Cartel has
engaged in decades-long effort to maintain a state of terror and unrest throughout
Chihuahua and parts of Sonora," the lawsuit states.
"The goal of their campaign
of terror has been to paralyze, intimidate, and threaten the Mexican
government, local police, prosecutors, and the civilian population."
The lawsuit noted that the cartel
operates an "unrestricted drug trade" backed by armed forces capable
of holding checkpoints on some roads and carrying out attacks, murders and the
burning of homes.
The deaths of the women and
children demonstrated La Linea's control of a road between Sonora and Chihuahua
and its intolerance of "any perceived connection to the Salazar
faction," the lawsuit states.
The Salazar faction refers to a
reputed family-run crime organization in Chihuahua that's part of the rival
Sinaloa cartel.
"The sheer number of
killings committed by all of Mexico's criminal cartels demonstrates their
ability to act with impunity," the lawsuit states.
Filing below contains historical information about Juarez Cartel and reveals details of the massacre---use hyperlink below to access full view
Lebaron vs Juarez Cartel La... by Chivis Martinez on Scribd
I guess the family Lebaron is planning on leaving mexico then?
ReplyDeleteread the first few pages of the lawsuit to find your answer
DeleteI hope so!
DeleteSuing a drug cartel? That seems a bit dangerous! Lol
ReplyDeleteThink that matters?
DeleteThey Labrarons were already getting their women and children executed already.
How could it possibly get any more dangerous for them?
Very simple genius, the rest of them could get killed.
DeleteThey are willing to die for what they believe in professor. Thats more honorable than or at least as honorable as the cartels reasons for putting their lives on the line...which is money.
DeleteThere are still people with courage!
ReplyDeleteIs it me or is there not actually a real physical defendant listed....? It is easily arguable that there really isn’t a Juarez cartel anymore. Look at this excerpt for further confirmation:
ReplyDelete“In September 2011, the Mexican Federal Police reported that the cartel is now known as "Nuevo Cartel de Juárez" (New Juárez Cartel). It is alleged that the New Juárez Cartel is responsible for recent executions in Ciudad Juárez and Chihuahua.”
And I can’t help but laugh, sorry. This is like those abductees who try filing lawsuits against their alien abductors.
I am not trying to be insensitive either, it’s just insane to think how this is real. There isn’t even an identifiable leader they can say is leading the cartel today, and let us not forget all the arrests they made for this horrific homicide until now. Alll of which consist of people from different factions!
”In 2020, we had seen it all..”
11:08 Did you read the entire documented?
DeleteThis is all a fuckin set up by the CIA and or DEA to capture CDS enemies so as to leave them one single cartel in charge of all Mexico. They need an excuse to go after La Linea since CDS can't handle them by themselves so they frame La Linea or give them wrong info so they will attack innocent Americans and hence be allowed to dismantle this cartel.
ReplyDeleteLa Linea does not kill random families much less Americans in Juarez which is why it would be unlike them to do this elsewhere.
Calm down, Alex Jones. If you actually read the affidavit, it says nothing about your precious Linea.
DeleteAlso, they supposedly already tried “wiping out CDS rivals” during the Calderon/PAN regime and if true, failed miserably.
”a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, the medicine go down, yes the medicine go down”
11:21 stop holding cartels to high standards they are filled with drugged up killers and you giving CDS too much credit they don't have that much pull with the cia or dea
Delete@11:21
DeleteListen up you little liniero fanboy .. la linia has been after the Lebaron family for over 10yrs now .. they were being targeted this wasn’t a random of act of violence ... fact is ALL cartels are ruthless and will kill innocent children if that’s what it takes .. I live in chihuahua and I can tell you for sure La Linea is one of the most ruthless criminal groups operating in Mexico .. just as sick as mencho except they don’t post videos online like menchita of every grandma they kill
11:21 your thoery is way offline, you need to read past BB articles on what happened in that month of 2019. Perhaps you are cheerleading that cartel, La Linea killed defenseless babies and mothers minding thier own business out there. The cartel can't hide it, that they did it, as this made world wide headlines.
Delete11:21
DeleteCDS is a drug trafficking organization of the people always has been. 30 years ago they were already constructing roads to get in and out of the rancho Aya en Durango. Built the church there. Other organizations have popped up and done nothing but terrorize innocent people. La linea puro cholo cagado mata inocentes
ur kidding right? take ur meds kid.
Deletethis is true just like when the Zetas was spanking Sinaloa left and right the government had to step in back them up both the u.s and mexican government. in the end the Zetas were so powerful they begin infighting within themselves and that weakened them
Delete11:21 Take off tin foil hat 🤣🤣
DeleteExcept for what the corrupt govenment says about La Linea being involved in the deaths of the Le Barons there is no other evidence. Of course everyone here thinks the Mexican govenement and more so the U.S. govenrment never make mistakes or harm anhbody correct?
DeleteBunch of fuckin naive people here!
What a waste of time.
ReplyDeleteAnd resources.
DeleteI doubt it, The U.S. does this all the time when they go after street gangs, drug gangs, or anything that will apply to a group as a whole so that the charges can apply to anyone belonging to it. This may allow them to charge anyone belonging to Juarez Cartel with some type of involvement to the massacre. of course anyone under US custody that is.
DeleteBest educated theory in my opinion is that the Juarez Cartel confused Lebaron's convoy with Sinaloa. It does not excuse the mass murder. However. The caveat question is what the hell was the Lebaron Family doing in Sonora anyway to begin with? Just asking.
ReplyDeleteEl Ranchero de Juarez.
they lived in La Mora Sonora and where on their way to a wedding in Chihuahua
DeleteI'm pretty sure cds has lookouts as soon as you enter their territory I doubt linieros would of made it in and out like nothing
DeleteI dont know how true is this but a friend from Chihuahua that has Intel from friends that are linieros, they had mantas blocked off completely stating linea never went to la mora in the first place and Adam LangFord stated seeing a black truck in a gasstation thru video that they were responsible and sicarios from namiquipa but who really was in that truck was Men of el bronco (jaguars people). The liniero that had that ranch in Sonora was either tolteca or g3 or messa whoever but they were completely ran out of sonora and were always waited for their returns in their properties, their home city, and ap so they always hid in Chihuahua
ReplyDeleteIt was Linea its already been proven. Stop spreading lies.
DeleteLinea ain't even in Sonora!
DeleteProven to be lies!
Really? Proven how ? Oh yeah cus the Mexican government came out and said it was La Linea, it must be them ! Mexican government is great at clearing cases and everything they say must be true. Haha
DeleteYou must be a sheep if u believe the government
Deletehow do you sue a drug cartel? do they have representatives? who goes to court? i’m not trying to sound sarcastic or joking, i’m just confused 😖😖
ReplyDeleteAre you dumb lol dont be ignorant, they are doing this just so they can put pressure on the government to go after la lenia and paralyze the juarez cartel
DeleteYou sure the people involved, the cheifs, and they do have reps.
DeleteThe LeBaron Family is hanging on the balls of the US government and using their white privilege to try and secure the Lithium that is on the land some corrupt Mexican government official sold them. These people are money hungry and will do what it takes to make sure they get the money. Just like they were doing with the water they are doing by using up the lions share of what little water is found in that region and leaving little to no water for the Mexican communities that surround their oasis.
ReplyDeleteThey would have already been forced to leave Mexico if I was the boss in that region. Since they settled in Mexico they have been a sore in ever Mexican that lives in that regions back. They are so greedy a Mexican would envy their greed.
You know nothing, stop talking out your ass. If you were...if worms had machine guns birds wouldnt eat them but they dont so shut up fool. Stop dreaming.
DeleteOn this occasion the worms had machine guns and it didn't go so well Lebaron say good bye good bye to ole Mexico. Hanging on papa sams nuts is all you can do. Those Mexicans had guns your guns didn't help you did they. The Farmers were one thing but what you are facing is something else.
DeleteAnybody found complicit will be sued as well. Wonder which branch of the Mexican government it will be???
ReplyDeleteA move with no positive impact or outcome will follow from this lawsuit. This meritless attack legally against any cartel will be met with laughter in the courts.
ReplyDeleteQuestion remains? Who will be held accountable for this? No different from US gangs & gun manufacturers, ect, facing criticism & backlash from legal experts.
Good luck.
Oh this works? The lawsuits will really pile up after this... They'll have cartel members showing up in courts all over Mexico. I'm sure the drug-pushing, thieving, career murderers will be calling their lawyers to defend their reputation in the community.
ReplyDeleteI have been waiting for a legal weigh-in as to why such a lawsuit is brought forth. Seems as though BB followers are stuck in the "how?" mode. I am no legal anything. But I am a logical thinker. Here are a few of my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteNo one, including the LeBarons thinks any representative from the Juarez Cartel will answer, be served, or make an appearance.
ALBEIT that would be the coolest thing ever
So why?
Often, the damaged party, feeling no recourse, will file a civil lawsuit to inform, inflame, or influence.
In a civil court, elements such as depositions are not something a defendant can shrug off. Look past the cartel and towards the gob.
INFORM: A civil suit is the only recourse to provide details to the general public, who are mostly unaware of how criminality and the corrupt gob work hand and hand in Mexico.
INFLUENCE: Influencing the public can cause a reaction towards the drug war or other related issues.
INFLAME: Such a lawsuit can be a great embarrassment to the Mexican government, it can expose specific corruption and collusions, it can reveal the truth of our wasted tax dollars continuing to be pumped into a hopeless, hapless drugwar that was DOA.
VERDICT: civil suit verdicts are the only recourse injured persons may have to hear a "GUILTY" judgement in favor of the plaintiff. I think back to the murder of my brother. My mother was never the same. She had a break down after the trial when my brother’s killer was acquitted, because witnesses were a no-show. She had Electroconvulsive therapy which changed who she was….forever.
If only we knew about the option of civil court
In my mind, I think this is a brave action on the part of the family. One that may benefit the American public by being exposed to interworking of the drug war, "educating" the public, they may lead to a greater knowledge by US people, who won't be so gullible when "narco monsters" are caged for life, and the gov saying “another win in the drug war.......as if.....
I for one, am not sure how far this action will go. I wish them all the best. I hope they do get that guilty verdict. Like countless others before them who turned to the court for peace, and a semblance of justice.
Fred Goldman's face just flashed before me....
I recall a few months ago when Fred, filed yet another lawsuit against OJ Simpson the killer of his son. OJ, living high on the hog
in Vegas cried to the press:
“I want Fred Goldman to just leave me alone” …seems oj is tired of Goldman filing in civil court for money after Fred hears of OJ making a few bucks.
Pobre Killer
anyway those are my dos centavos....🙏
Gracias beautiful.
DeleteLabeling drug cartels as terrorist groups would nonetheless have legal implications…for US citizens. The debate over Mexican drug violence often serves to obscure the huge demand for narcotics in the US that drug traffickers are seeking to supply. Once again, drug cartels have customers, not constituents. This begs the question, if drug cartels are officially labeled as terrorists, could American drug users be charged with supporting terrorism whenever they buy a dose? If so, US Federal courts would become paralyzed with the volume of cases that were once municipal offenses, but are suddenly raised to the level of national security crimes.
Delete5:58 good point.
DeleteAnother thing IS, there are TOO many GOV officials in the DRUG game and it would be bad for busines..
I agree with you Chivis. It's valuable to boost the memory by documenting the what, when and how. It's always possible plaintiff could throw the MX government into the mix within the complaint.
ReplyDeleteConstruct a willful disregard for the safety of ALL of the residents in Mexico.
Recall the current president personally pulled security details from at least one area dominated by Mormon settlements.
The LeBarons deserve recompense and the verdict of this civil action should be sizeable if for nothing else but to turn heads.
I'm thinking that they will attempt to get 'reparations' for the crimes committed against them from CFO's seized assets (houses, cars, jewelry, etc) and frozen bank accounts. All of which the government currently possesses.
ReplyDeleteWhite privilege at its finest,yet you don’t see Mexico suing all the kids and innocents killed by BP.
ReplyDeleteDo shut up. Your ignorance is showing. Better yet, keep spewing the sewage, so all can can smell the reeking thoughts of your hatred and failure so as to flush it down and rid ourselves of it.
DeleteBP British petro
DeleteTake them to Judge Judy. Put the blame on El Viceroy or el JL. Record and play it on live television
ReplyDeleteThere not American most are German 🤦🏻♂️
ReplyDeleteVicente Carrillo dont need to be in jail nomore he needs to be taken out.
ReplyDeleteHis nephew Cesar "CHICHARO" Carrillo runs the show now
DeleteVicente killing all those women and girls. Nosotros en Juarez si queremos a la gente Buena. Saludoz desde ca.
ReplyDeleteYou're the dumbass. Any property on either side of the border owned by anyone with ties to the cartel can have it seized and forfeited to the plaintiffs in satisfaction of the judgment.
ReplyDeletetheyre more Mexican than American. The majority of them are born and raised in Mexico and it has been that way with them for generations
ReplyDeleteHad to be Americans the only ones with balls in that whole country
ReplyDeleteYou must be NEW to this site
DeleteWhy doesn't a lawsuit like this exist for the Hells Angels, KKK or even the Arian Brotherhood here in the states?
ReplyDeleteAll of these organizations cause terror to survive with the last one mentioned making up only 1 percent of the entire U.S. prison population yet commitzing 10 percent of the murders there. This is not including the murders committed outside prison walls.