La Familia Faction Boss Arrested For Extorting Construction Companies In Complex Scheme

"Morogris" for Borderland Beat

Joel Ángel's last name was not shared by authorities. He is known as Skipy and/or El Muletas (image credit: Telediario)

Authorities from the State of Mexico have apprehended Joel Ángel "N," also known as "Skipy" or "El Muletas" (The Crutches), identified as one of the leaders of a criminal cell associated with La Familia Michoacana, known as the Sindicato Bicentenario (Bicentennial Syndicate).

Investigators revealed that this individual was involved in extorting businessmen within the construction industry across various regions in the state. The successful capture resulted from thorough investigations aimed at locating a construction businessman who had fallen victim to extortion and kidnapping orchestrated by Joel Ángel.

The investigations further disclosed that Joel Ángel personally visited construction sites to collect extortion payments and forced construction companies to purchase raw materials exclusively from companies owned or controlled by members of the Sindicato Bicentenario.

On June 21, he was arrested after an armed confrontation on the Toluca - Atlacomulco freeway and subsequently placed under the jurisdiction of a federal judge at the Santiaguito Social Readaptation Center in Almoloya de Juárez municipality.

Joel Ángel is also facing charges of drug trafficking and attempted homicide. Moreover, he is under investigation for aggravated extortion, which took place in May 2023, when his criminal cell targeted workers constructing an industrial warehouse in the municipality of Ocoyoacac.

Properties Seized

Following the arrest, authorities discovered that his criminal organization owned multiple properties. Two of these properties were searched, one located in the Residencial Las Flores neighborhood in San Lorenzo Tepatitlán, Toluca, and the other in the Ex Hacienda San José Subdivision in Santa Cruz Otzacatipan, Mexico City.

Another property targeted by a court order was situated in the upscale Residencial Portofino Royal Country Club neighborhood in Metepec municipality, Toluca. This property served as Joel Ángel's operational base.

Modus Operandi

The complex scheme employed by members of the Sindicato Bicentenario began with identifying ongoing construction projects in the State of Mexico.

Subsequently, their envoys, aided by individuals associated with local construction unions, gathered essential information about their targets, including the construction business owners' personal details, contact numbers, and addresses.

Sindicato Bicentenario would then intimidate the owners and kidnap them if they did not comply.

The demands often included forcing the owners to procure construction materials, such as gravel, sand, and base stone, solely from suppliers connected to the gang, with one such supplier being the mine known as "Tres Estrellas" in the municipality of San Felipe del Progreso.

The victims were coerced into paying a percentage of their earnings, ranging from 15 to 20 percent, to the Sindicato Bicentenario.

Sources: Milenio; Reforma; ADN Noticias; Yahoo Noticias