Members of Barrio Azteca Gang Sentenced for Racketeering

A leader and two followers of a notable gang have been sentenced to prison.

One of the leaders of the Barrio Azteca gang, 38-year-old Hector Galindo of El Paso, also known as “Silent”, has been sentenced to life in prison. Galindo is currently serving a 25-year Texas state sentence for murder

44-year-old Ricardo Gonzales of Anthony, New Mexico, received a 30-year prison sentence, and 35-year-old Adam Garcia of El Paso was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The trio pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering last January, and were sentenced Thursday in the Western District of Texas.

According to court documents, Galindo was a top lieutenant in the BA, and served as the right hand man to BA Captain Manuel Cardoza. Evidence was presented that Gonzales and Garcia were BA soldiers, whose duties included distributing drugs, picking up money from dealers, and enforcement operations within their area of responsibility.

“As members of the Barrio Azteca gang, Hector Galindo, Ricardo Gonzales, and Adam Garcia participated in a brutal criminal enterprise dedicated to spreading fear and violence on both sides of the border,” said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer. “These prison sentences send a strong message that even the most powerful and ruthless gangs cannot evade justice.”

The Barrio Azteca is a transnational border gang allied with the Juarez Cartel.

A total of 35 BA members based in the United States and Mexico were charged in another superseding indictment for allegedly committing acts such as racketeering, narcotics distribution and importation, extortion, money laundering, and murder.