**“El P1”, Former Arellano Félix Cartel Hitman Chief, Released in San Diego After 16 Years in Prison**
Carlos Herrera Ávalos, also known by his aliases Gustavo Rivera Martínez or “El P1,” once served as the chief hitman for the notorious Arellano Félix Cartel (CAF). Recently, Herrera confessed to charges of conspiracy regarding the importation of marijuana and cocaine into the United States between 1991 and 2008. This confession took place in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, located in San Diego. Following his guilty plea, Herrera was released after spending over 16 years in custody, both in Mexico and San Diego.
At 63 years old, Herrera, a U.S. citizen who grew up in Chula Vista near San Diego, admitted in his plea agreement to collaborating with prominent CAF members, including Francisco Javier Arellano Félix, known as “El Tigrillo,” and David Barrón Corona, alias “Popeye” or “CH,” who was a member of Barrio Logan and eventually became a CAF hitman.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego chose not to comment on Herrera’s plea or subsequent release, and his lawyers have not responded to inquiries for remarks.
Herrera’s plea agreement led both prosecutors and defense attorneys to mutually recommend a sentence that acknowledged time served, with Judge Dana Makoto Sabraw deciding to release him under self-recognizance while being tracked by GPS.
Herrera was originally apprehended on March 12, 2008, in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, and was extradited to the United States in 2009. The DEA had previously offered a $2 million reward for information leading to his capture.
**Recent Developments in the Arellano Félix Cartel**
In a separate but related incident in Culiacán, Mexico, state police were ambushed near the International Airport, resulting in one officer dead and four others injured. Additionally, in Culiacán, a man accused of handling payroll for ‘Los Chapitos,’ a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, was arrested; this individual is a brother to “El Pelón,” highlighting the ongoing complexities and internal conflicts within the cartels.
On the political front, Antorcha Campesina presented demands for improved infrastructure and schools to Ismael Burgueño, while Claudia Sheinbaum, a prominent political figure, acknowledged the economic pressures from tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump but emphasized commitments to manage migration effectively.
These events underscore the persistent drug-related violence and intertwining political dynamics involving narcotics trafficking in Mexico.
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