"Anonymous" and "HEARST" for Borderland Beat
Carlos Fabian Martinez Perez, alias “El Cuate” or The Twin, the son-in-law of legendary Gulf Cartel boss Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, was arrested on Thursday at a home in Mission, Texas.
His arrest was part of an operation conducted by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in South Texas that resulted in the arrest of at least 10 more people.
The name of most of the other suspects have not been released. Among those confirmed is former Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) deputy for Tamaulipas, José de Jesús Tapia Fernández, as well as two individuals identified as Pedro Calvillo Hernández and Marco Antonio Medina.
El Cuate Martinez will appear before a US federal judge on 28 November. Since the indictment remains sealed, the charges against him are unknown at this time.
Who Is El Cuate?
El Cuate Martinez is a high-ranking Gulf Cartel member aligned to the Matamoros faction, which has historically supported the Cárdenas faction. He had a twin brother named Victor Alonso, also nicknamed El Cuate (The Twin), who controlled the Matamoros prison until his death in 2014.
El Cuate Martinez is married to Marlene Cárdenas, one of the daughters of Osiel Cardenas Guillen, the former leader of the Gulf Cartel and founder of Los Zetas.
He is a close associate of Raul Garcia Martinez, aliases “El Loco” and “Escorpion 2”, the current plaza boss of Matamoros. Garcia Martinez was a close associate of late drug kingpin Antonio Cardenas Guillen, alias “Tony Tormenta”, since the early 2000s.
Mexican investigators suspect since 2018 that El Cuate is responsible for extorting the Mexican customs agents and controlling the corridor at Los Indios Texas Port of Entry in western Matamoros. This is one of the four US international crossings in Matamoros. El Cuate is believed to charge piso, a form of fee or taxation, for smugglers using this port of entry.
His Business Network
Business records provided by citizen journalists in Tamaulipas confirm that El Cuate Martinez was deeply involved in business activities with the Tamaulipas state government through corrupt contract negotiations with Governor Francisco Javier García Cabeza de Vaca (2016–2022).
The scheme works more or less in the following way:
Politician wins a seat in the government with Gulf Cartel funding
Gulf Cartel money launderer is granted a project from the government in a no-bid process
Project is implemented and politicians receive 10 to 30% of the contract's value
Money from the Gulf Cartel is laundered
The projects awarded by the government went through Reynaldo Garza Gomez, alias "El Sr. de los Sobornos", or The Lord of Briberies, who was head of the Projects and Contracts with the Office of Public Works in Tamaulipas.
In addition, one of the main associates in this scheme is Tamaulipas businessman Francisco Javier Lazo Rodriguez, who owns Constructora Lazo S. de RL de CV. He is the godfather of El Cuate and has won numerous no-bid contracts with the government.
Other of El Cuate's operators include Rigoberto Brown, one of Osiel Cárdenas's nephews, and Rigoberto Castorena Cantú, his brother-in-law. Sources consulted by Borderland Beat say that Brown reportedly lives in Monterrey and has been part of the Gulf Cartel since the late 1990s.
Federal authorities also stated that El Cuate had ties with Luis Biasi, Jesús Jiraudini, alias “El Chuy”, and his nephew Oscar Jiraudini, who reportedly supports the Gulf Cartel at several ports of entry in Reynosa and Matamoros. Bias's treasurer Luis Miguel Fuentes Garcia was killed in September 2020 reportedly for having a grudge with El Cuate.
El Cuate Martinez is said to own and/or partially own several businesses in Matamoros Among them is the laundromat business Lavanderias Adame, the Casino Intercontinental, and the Plaza Genesis mall, named after his daughter Genesis.
*Note: The US indictment spells El Cuate's name as Carlos Favian Martinez.
Arrest Sources: Infobae; TabascoHoy; KRGV; KRGV (2); Valor Tamaulipeco; El Norte, Expreso
Background Sources: Valor Tamaulipeco (1); (2); Narco en Mexico; Borderland Beat archives; Anonymous sources
Nobody invests that kind of money in a lavenderia in Mexico, except...
ReplyDeleteIs that a fact or opinion? If so, how credible are your statements?
Delete3:06 you're reading this fool is going to be criminally charged, is the son in law of a convicted drug trafficker and you still question if his money is ilegally earned? He's just an individual that wants to help people that can't afford a washing machine and that's why he has this lavandería😉😜
Delete1103 thanks for your input. I had a feeling you wouldn't comeback with an answer.
Delete… except Walter White!
DeleteThose lavanderias are not only in Mexico, they are in Brownsville Texas
Delete@5:30 se lo van a chingar al buey
DeleteTall, sympathetic man, his father in law will be out in two years
ReplyDeleteHe ain’t coming back to Mexico. Witness protection more likely
DeleteWhy in the world would he go to witness protection? That’s just ridiculous and you say it every time he’s mentioned
Delete11:18:
DeleteHe's a pretty big dude. I don't think he's going to have any problems in prison.
It's hard to call Witsec at this time because the indictment is sealed. If he's facing life then Witsec could become a real possibility. His size doesn't matter if he's going to be locked up until he hits 75.
If he's only facing 10 to 20, he just might tough it out. We will all have to wait until the 28th when they read the indictment in open court.
Thanks for the story Hearst.
1;52 and Detroit - Osiel's trial was behind close doors so we don't know much anyways. Burden of proof is on the one making the claim that he will come back. We just don't know.
DeleteFrom what I remember, BB mentioned that Osiel didn't have a deportation clause in his indictment, unlike other capos who have already been deported. This is a big deal considering that these other capos are in the same indictment. I'm talking about that 2000 indictment that has had two superseding ones, including the 2009 one. The fact that Osiel is the only one where it doesn't say they are not allowed to stay or re-enter shows that he may have struck a deal to stay. Osiel should have gotten life imprisonment but only got 25 years in exchange for something, likely safe haven upon his release.
Osiel is not wanted in Mexico. Mexico extradited him because he was too much trouble in Altiplano...
He's a pretty big dude? He's a fat fuck, what's he gonna do in a fight, sit on you?
Delete3:32:
DeleteInteresting points. I have always been curious about Osiel's deal. If you remember it was reported that he was always confident in court and gave the impression that he was quite content.
He was arrested about 2007 and extradited about 2010. I can't find him on the BOP site to know the date of his release. He would have to serve about 21 years. If they credited him with his in custody time in Mexico, he should be released in about 2028. He's fairly young so he might not be quite 60 when he's released.
He only gave up $30 million to the U.S. but is reported to be worth in the billions. It doesn't matter where he lives. He has a very comfortable retirement.
4:23 he was arrested in 2003
Delete@Detroit - Look him up with this inmate number: 62604-079 - for whatever reason his name is misspelled since that was how it was written when he was indicted in 2000.
DeleteHis release date is 08/30/2024.
I don't think Osiel will return to Mexico. He pretty much gave the US all he knew about the CDG/Zetas back in the day when his info was still valuable. He would have gotten life if he didn't, like JGA, who kept his mouth shut.
Some commentators here keep saying Osiel will be back and call those who think otherwise idiots or uninformed. Reality is, Osiel's case was managed differently and his indictment details don't stipulate deportation. See BB's story:
http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2020/04/imprisoned-gulf-cartel-leader-osiel.html
We don't know what will happen for certain but don't be surprised if Osiel stays in the US.
Thanks 7:15 and 8:40. I don't recall reading the borderlandbeat story that he lacks a deportation order. I go months without getting on this site, and when I do, I don't always have the time to read every story.
DeleteThe gist that I got from his trial reporting was that he was almost confident to the point of cockiness. The way the press reported it, it sounded like everything was a done deal and he wasn't going to get life. His trial was closed (which is odd) so we are really limited on info on his trial.
You are correct. They did misspell his name. This may not have been done by accident. I would bet that he will be quietly released months before August of 2024. They report his age as 55 so he will be 56 or 57 at the time of his release. If he was arrested in 2003, he was given credit for all of his time in Mexico.
Everything says that he cooperated, yet we have no proof that he did.
I wouldn't rule out Witsec but it may not be necessary in his case because there is nothing to suggest that he gave anyone up. They let him keep a boat load of cash so he will have incredible freedom after he gets out.
My bet is that he will be quietly released several months early and he won't get back into the game. He is set for life and I'm sure has his people waiting for him after he gets out. It's rare to see any guy of his stature get a deal like this.
Cara de papa...
ReplyDeleteThe guys huge, handsome and wealthy? What a catch ☺️
ReplyDeleteÓrale. Jajajaja
DeleteTo each their own. For me he’s fat but happens to have a large complexion cus he’s tall. I prefer slimmer.
DeleteProbably can’t run 100 meters if the police closes in on him lol
Delete@12:32 you prefer slimar guys? Wow how revealing
DeleteDoes cuate work in FedEx porque tiene un paquetoté
DeleteTaller people live shorter lives and generally have more health problems.
DeleteSubhuman filth.
ReplyDeleteThe Powerful and Greedy Gulf Cartel no one can control Tamaulipas, not mencha or chapitas 😂😂
ReplyDeleteEscopriones ciclones metros cdn zetas vieja escuela grupo pumas what cdg? The jaliscas come in and kill plaza bosses in the south and leave southern tamaulipas. Cdg needs to unite before is too late.
DeleteJaliscas will run back to Michoacán and Jalisco
DeleteThanks BB for mentioning some of those money launderers like Brown, Lazo, etc. They are all heavy hitters in the NL area too. Brown in specific has a son named Roberto. Old CDG family that’s for sure
ReplyDeleteIt’s unfortunate corruption exist this high up, but it also prevents the cartels to interfere with small business/civilian extortion. No bid contracts is what the Italian mafia use to do. This is why I see Matamoros and Reynosa is less dangerous than places like Laredo and Frontera Chica.
ReplyDeleteAnd also why Matamoros and Reynosa have shit infrastructure. Those companies doing the public work like roads. Highways. Buildings. Etc are not professional construction firms. Reynosa and Matamoros have a lot of bad roads for that reason. Since Tomas Yarrington this shit has been rampant. I live in Reynosa and we all know that they give construction projects to compadres instead of to the company that Can best for the job.
Delete@1:30 I don’t disagree with you. I have family in Miguel Aleman, Reynosa and Matamoros…the roads and bridges are shit. The water purification plants and sewage plants are in need of upgrades, but it keeps these criminal organizations rich and don’t interfere with regular folks.
DeleteThe reason why tamaulipas infrastructure is shot is men like ex governor cabeza de vaca steals all the money not just for roads but schools etc. You got the criminals extorting the businesses and the crooked government stealing all the funds for infrastructure. Theyre literally killing tamaulipas.
Delete4:21 For the first time in decades PRI/ PAN isnt ruling Tamaulipas. Cabeza de Vaca is now wanted by justice. We will see, since former governor let the SEDENA step in.
Delete9:52 wasn't Américo, the new MORENA gobernador, from PRI?
Delete1:42 No campeon, no te confundas.
Deletelove the report, however, you guys should blur the kids' faces.
ReplyDeletewhy? they are guilty as well. Fuck fatty and family!
DeleteEl Cuate had pictures on social media in the US. Vegas being one of the places. I’m sure he had a visa or maybe dual citizenship. Marlene I believe has US citizenship although can’t confirm if by birth or after Osiel testified.
ReplyDeleteThis arrest could mark a whole new investigation into Cabeza de Vaca and all his money laundering web. Lazo, Brown, Juraidini, and even Malherbe are part of this web. Old school CDG is still alive and active.
It's kinda sad to admit but reading bb for the past 10 years I've realized Méxicos a real life modern day GTA(rp) the bullies take what they want- then narcos bribe and live how they want and please- people get away with murder- the poor stay poor- the weak are vulnerable- 😓😥
ReplyDelete2:20, My suggestion is open up your connections to Mexico by visiting, knowing people that live here, open up your media diet. Experiencing life here where it is governed and not crime ridden has been many more positives than negatives for me
Delete2:20 Looks like you never been to Mexico.
Delete950 I was born there tonton
Delete11:16 Pues te llevaron de mojado desde chiquito al otro lado, por que de Mexico no sabes nada...
DeleteI think the recent Guacamole hacker leaks has a lot to do with recent murders and high ranking arrests and seizures.
ReplyDeleteMexican players can't hide and US agents have to bust the bad guys they've been protecting the past 15 years
No it doesn't @2:36
DeleteI would of liked to have my Taco Bell message up there, but whatevs lol
ReplyDeleteWhat taco bell message?
DeleteMaybe change the wording a little so we get the message like G who used gas demet.
No? Maybe? Aight den.
Supposedly Matamoros is trying do do things and fly under the radar. They want no unnecessary attention
ReplyDeleteArrest, prosecute, imprison, and then deport (with public notice of deportation beforehand, so there's an awaiting "welcoming" party ).
ReplyDeleteIs BuzzLightYear!, NO!, Is Samuel Garcia!, NO!, Is El Cuate!
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to his wife.
ReplyDeleteThe kids can't be blamed.
She was not reported as someone who was arrested. So she's likely free.
DeleteLuis Biasi died? Lety Salazar boyfriend?
ReplyDeleteAnonimous,i have information over you right hand in matamoros city and you washer money man
ReplyDeleteSigue faltando el enlace con el crimen organizado de cabeza de vaca,llamado julio cesar lazo rodriguez,ahora protegido de samuel garcia en nuevo leon,mismo que nadie en las paginas quiere ventilar o investigar ya que cuenta con fuertes lazos en distintas dependencias gubernamentales al ser un narcoempresario
ReplyDeleteA lguien que denuncia ala dea a julio cesar lazo rodriguez, mano derecha del yerno y principal operador financiero asi como de organizar el trasiego de clorohidrato de cocaina a los estados unidos de norteamerica,,actualmente financiador de la faccion metros de reynosa tamaulipas en su guerra con el grupo escorpion en represalia del levanton sufrido en septiembre pasado,es cuestion de que lo investigue la dea ya que en mexico es intocable por los fuertes vinculos con las autoridades gubernamentales
ReplyDelete