The head of a violent street gang that has waged havoc in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua was among the 27 detainees who fled the prison Sunday following an armed attack that left 10 officers and seven inmates dead.
Los Mexicles head Ernesto ‘El Neto Piñón and the gang’s second-in-command César Vega fled the Cereso No. 3 state jail in Ciudad Juárez following the assault that left 19 detainees with injuries.
At least 25 armed men arrived at the jail at 7am and started a military-style attack, quickly killing two guard at the entrance, where guests were waiting to enter.
The trio later approached a second booth where they tied up and killed down two additional guards. They then entered the prison’s fifth cell block, where they rescued Piñón and Vega.
Los Mexicles leader Ernesto ‘El Neto Piñón is missing after he fled from a prison in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, on Sunday morning during an armed raid that left 10 guard and seven inmates dead.
Piñón was sentenced to 224 years in 2010 after he was found guilty of kidnapping and murder charges
Inmates are collected up and sat together outside the Cereso No. 3 state jail shortly after security authorities regained control of the institution
Ciudad Juárez authorities captured five members of the Los Mexicles gang during a high-speed pursuit.
All five individuals were detained on attempted murder, illegal firearm possession and criminal organization association charges.
The gang members departed in various vehicles through the same entryway they had entered while 25 detainees spilled on to the streets and disappeared.
Authorities recorded at least six carjackings involving the fleeing detainees.
Ciudad Juárez police murdered two gang members after a street gun duel and detained five gang members during a pursuit.
All five individuals were detained on attempted murder, illegal firearm possession and criminal organization association charges.
At least five of the detainees who were killed were all reputed members of Los Mexicles.
Following a riot, security personnel stormed the prison, restored order, and recovered 10 weapons, narcotics, alcohol, and other personal goods from Pión’s jail cell.
The second-in-command of Los Mexicles, César Vega (seen in September 2015), also escaped from the Cereso No. 3 state jail.
Francisco Juárez, 21, Luis Jurado, 19, David Ros, 22, Isaac Rojas, 30, and Adán Aguirre, 24, are the 25 convicts.
Also absent are Rodolfo González ,40; Edgar Ortiz, 23; Javier Rodríguez, 20; Brian de Santiago, 18; Brayan Celis, 22; Iván Acosta, 33; Joaquín Gutiérrez, 32; José Espinoza, 24; Ismael García, 28; Raúl López, 34; and Alejandro Delgado, 25.
The rest of the group includes José Hernández, 25; Daniel de León, 35; Carlos Altamirano, 25; Danie Rodríguez, 21; Julio Perales, 31; Jorge Meléndez, 27; Juan Carrasco, 21; Mario Gutiérrez 21; and Félix Sánchez, 35.
It is unknown whether all of them have ties to Los Angeles.
Police in Ciudad Juárez seized equipment and firearms from five Los Mexicles gang members apprehended following a high-speed pursuit.
Inmates are gathered outside the Cereso No. 3 state jail in Ciudad Juárez after a devastating attack on Sunday morning claimed the lives of 10 guards and seven detainees.
After Jess ‘El Lalo’ Soto was transported out of the prison in February 2020, Pión ascended to power as the commander of Los Mexicles.
In 2007, at the age of 18, he joined the gang and was involved in various criminal acts, including kidnappings, in Ciudad Juárez, where the criminal faction served as the Sinaloa Cartel’s chief enforcer.
In 2010, Pión was found guilty of kidnapping and murder and given a 224-year prison term.
Authorities allege he was also engaged in directing a wave of attacks in Ciudad Juárez on August 11 that resulted in 11 deaths, 20 injuries, and the torching of numerous automobiles and businesses.
Los Mexicles’ break from the Sinaloa Cartel and its new partnership with Los Aztecas, the armed wing of the Juárez Cartel, reportedly precipitated the breach.
Vega was Pión’s closest confidante in their shared cell in the Cereso No. 3 state jail.
SUV confiscated from Los Mexicles gang members involved in Sunday’s prison assault
After a prison riot broke out at the Cereso No. 3 state jail in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, security personnel take action.
In front of the Cereso No. 3 state jail, the security personnel recovered firearms and ammunition.
In September 2015, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement returned Vega to Mexico, almost four years after he was detained at a fried chicken restaurant in El Paso, Texas, where he was employed as a cook.
According to ICE, Vega was captured on December 27, 2011 at Church’s Chicken, one year after he fled Mexican authorities following the ambush of the prison vehicle in which he was being taken.
On September 15, 2009, he and seven other Los Mexicles gang members seized Natividad Torres from his house in Ciudad Juárez.
The kidnappers demanded $47,000 for Torres’ release, but settled for $700, a 2008 Toyota, and a television. Torres was shot four times on September 15 before being released the next day.
He died of his gunshot wound on October 21, and Vega and four other kidnappers were captured the following month.
Vega was given a 42-year prison sentence for kidnapping and murder.
Visitors pose in front of the door to the Cereso No. 3 state prison following the assault that resulted in the escape of 27 convicts on Sunday morning.
»El Chapo’s former gang boss flees prison after serving 224 years«