Mexican cartels hiring US soldiers as hit men

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**Jihadin**

The involvement of three American soldiers in separate incidents, including a 2009 murder that led to last week’s life sentence for a former Army private, underscore a problem the U.S. military has fought hard to address.

"We have seen examples over the past few years where American servicemen are becoming involved in this type of activity," said Fred Burton, vice president for STRATFOR Global Intelligence. "It is quite worrisome to have individuals with specialized military training and combat experience being associated with the cartels."

The life sentence handed down in El Paso District court July 25 to an Army private hired by the Juarez Cartel to be the triggerman in a 2009 hit in this border city is the most recent case.

Michael Apodaca, 22, was a private first-class stationed at nearby Fort Bliss Army Base and was attached to the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade when he was recruited and paid $5,000 by the Juarez Cartel to shoot and kill Jose Daniel Gonzalez-Galeana, a cartel member who had been outed as an informant for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Apodaca, who was the triggerman in the May 15, 2009, hit, was sentenced in El Paso District Court July 25.

Last September, Kevin Corley, 29, a former active-duty Army first lieutenant from Fort Carson in Colorado, pleaded guilty in federal court in Laredo, Texas, to conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire for the Los Zetas Cartel after being arrested in a sting operation. Ironically, that cartel was itself founded by Special Forces deserters from the Mexican Army.

Arrested with Corley in connection with the case was former Army Sgt. Samuel Walker, 28. He was convicted of committing a murder-for-hire in November 2012 and sentenced to 15 years in prison June 21.

Walker served in Afghanistan with Corley’s 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division platoon between 2010-2011. Shortly after their return, they made contact with the undercover DEA agent they thought was a member of Los Zetas.

According to his plea agreement, Corley was introduced to undercover agents posing as members of Los Zetas cartel in September 2011; he admitted to being an active-duty officer in the U.S. Army responsible for training soldiers. He told his contact he could provide tactical training for members of the cartel and purchase weapons for them. In later meetings, Corley discussed stealing weapons from military posts and military tactics. On Dec. 23, 2011, he agreed to perform a contract killing for the cartel in exchange for $50,000 and cocaine.

Burton said some soldiers become corrupted by gangs after joining, while others are gang members who enlist specifically for the training they can get.

“There has been a persistent gang problem in the military for the past six to eight years,” Burton said, adding that cartels greatly value trained soldiers from the U.S., Mexico and Guatemala as sicarios – hit men.

More recently, the May 22 murder of Juan Guerrero-Chapa, 43, a former lawyer for the Gulf Cartel, in a mall parking lot in an affluent suburb of Fort Worth has raised concerns due to the military precision with which it was carried out.

"Obviousl, the nature of this homicide, the way it was carried out indicates –– and I said indicates –– an organization that is trained to do this type of activity," Southlake Police Chief Stephen Mylett said following the attack. "When you're dealing with individuals that operate on such a professional level, certainly caution forces me to have to lean toward that this is an organized criminal activity act.”

While Mylett acknowledged the murder was a “targeted affair conducted by professional killers,” he would not confirm or deny suspicions that current or previous military was involved.

“The case is still being investigated,” Mylett said.

A task force consisting of the Southlake Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, FBI, DEA, and Department of Homeland Security is investigating the case.

But an expert on Mexican cartels, who declined to be identified, said the “operation was brilliant and disciplined.”

“I would be asking the question -- if military was involved -- if I was leading the investigation based on the MO, geography and precision,” said the expert. “I don't have any information to confirm, but we know that a hit team came in and out and there was also a stand-alone recon team.”

Using American servicemen could make it easier to carry out a murder in the U.S. since they can more easily move across the border. And the lure of quick money has proven tempting for theses soldiers given the dismal military pay scale.

Apodaca’s fee for killing Galaena was nearly three times his monthly pay. A sergeant like Walker makes around $2,500 per month, and Corley $4,500. Both hoped for $50,000 each and drugs from their “Los Zetas” connection.

Growing ties between U.S.-based gangs, which have long infiltrated the military, and the Mexican cartels could be making American soldiers even more readily available to the cartels south of the border. The FBI National Gang Intelligence Center reports its concern with gang members with military training poses a unique threat to law enforcement personnel because of their distinctive weapons and combat training skills and ability to transfer these skills to fellow gang members. As of April 2011, the NGIC has identified members of at least 53 gangs whose members have served in or are affiliated with U.S. military.

According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, Hispanic prison gangs along the Southwest border region are strengthening their ties with cartels to acquire wholesale quantities of drugs. There are also strong indications that in exchange for a consistent drug supply, gangs smuggle and distribute drugs, collect drug proceeds, launder money, smuggle weapons, commit kidnappings, and serve as lookouts and enforcers on behalf of the cartels, according to law enforcement sources.

The NDIC has also found that gang-related activity and violence has increased along the Southwest border region, as U.S.-based gangs seek to prove their worth to the drug cartels, compete with other gangs for favor, and act as U.S.-based enforcers for cartels which involves home invasions, robbery, kidnapping and murder.

Army officials have sought to address the issue of gang and cartel influence within their ranks with tighter recruiting standards. A spokesman told FoxNews.com that current recruiting efforts are much more stringent than even four years ago, and that anyone sporting a gang-related tattoo is no longer accepted for enlistment.

“A person like Michael Apodaca would not even be allowed to enlist today,” Army Maj. Joe Buccino, spokesman for the Fort Bliss Army Base in El Paso, told FoxNews.com. “We’re more selective than during the height of Iraq.”

Better raise our pay rates........ I'm retired.....I get paid a lot....I stick with Movement Coordinator and collect my bennies from the military

**djones520**

Ex military becoming mercenaries. Nothing exactly new about that.

**Orlanth**

Makes 'sense', cartels can pay very well, especailly the Sinaloa.

Big time drug dealers have a cash problem, namely how to actually spend it. Its not uncommon for cartel bosses to have huge stacks of bills in their homes. One bust in Mexico of a mob lawyer turned up over 200million USD in his house, people like Chapo Guzman simply cant spend all their money and prices for services can get very high as the money is there to be spent. Even middle tier cartel workers, like air traffic controllers routinely get a million dollars as lump sum salary, delivered in cash, normally annually. So professional hitmen nowadays can likely also command very high sums, technically they could arrange to retire after one job, but somehow I doubt it works like that.

**Kanluwen**

djones520 wrote:
Ex military becoming mercenaries. Nothing exactly new about that.

Especially not with Los Zetas being involved; as the group was founded by ex-military types.

They likely know exactly how to hook 'em.

**Grey Templar**

That is one problem with dirty money. It can be tough to spend it, and money laundering can be equally tough to set up.

And you can't exactly go to a bank and make a bunch of deposits either.

**Orlanth**

The Zetas have really raised the anti, the older cartels had a lid on things and kept their comunities relatively quiet.

With Mexico sewn up between the cartels to be break into the game the Zetas muscled in the only way everyone has to recognise, raw firepower.

Mexico has been thrown deep into the fire as a result.

**Grey Templar**

I wonder how long until Mexico is totally controlled by criminal organizations like Colombia is.

**Relapse**

Grey Templar wrote:
I wonder how long until Mexico is totally controlled by criminal organizations like Colombia is.

Drug users are doing all they can to hasten it.

**CptJake**

Grey Templar wrote:
I wonder how long until Mexico is totally controlled by criminal organizations like Colombia is.

Colombia is not totally controlled by criminal organizations. They have come a long way since the 80s- 90s, which is actually one reason the Mexican cartels have gained the power they have.

**d-usa**

Well, join the military and learn a skill and trade, use that to get employed after you leave the military.

Sounds good when you learn to be a mechanic, meteorologist, medic, IT guy, tons of other trades.

But do special forces learn any other trade than to be special forces?

Not trying to be a smart-ass here, but it seems like the "killing focused" (to over-simplify things) are not exactly learning a skill that is easy to market or find employment for.

**CptJake**

d-usa wrote:
Well, join the military and learn a skill and trade, use that to get employed after you leave the military.

Sounds good when you learn to be a mechanic, meteorologist, medic, IT guy, tons of other trades.

But do special forces learn any other trade than to be special forces?

Not trying to be a smart-ass here, but it seems like the "killing focused" (to over-simplify things) are not exactly learning a skill that is easy to market or find employment for.

Lets see:

SOF medics are already more certified than any big city EMT. They often run the only clinic available in some very infrastructure poor areas. They can do dental work and perform surgery.
SOF Intel have some very good analysis training as well as some specialized training.
SOF Engineers may not have a civil engineering degree, but have a crap ton of field experience doing what civil engineers do. They can do site surveys and put up buildings, dig wells, lay in roads/runways and more.
SOF Commo types have a LOT of technical experience in all kinds of communications technologies that the ATTs of the world LOVE. Satcom, antenna theory, HF, encrypted comms, cellular, you name it.

So with the possible exception of the SOF weapons specialist the rest of a typical ODA is covered. Oh, but wait, each member is going to be cross trained in at least one of the other specialties.

So, yeah, SOF types can do more than shoot stuff.

It is worth noting, that none of the guys mentioned in the article were SOF. For feths sake, one was a PFC in a Patriot ADA Brigade.

**Monster Rain**

I find that my ability to calculate and deliver firing data and coordinate timely and accurate fire support from 155-mm Howitzer batteries comes into play on a regular basis in civilian life.

Wait a minute...

Seriously though, even if your MOS doesn't teach you some sort of trade, the educational benefits certainly will enable you to learn one after you get out.

**d-usa**

Very interesting, thanks. That's the kind of stuff I didn't know about.

So how does the progression usually work? Are people medics first, then advance to SOF? Learn their profession and work it in a "regular" setting before trying to advance to SOF?

**azazel the cat**

Grey Templar wrote:That is one problem with dirty money. It can be tough to spend it, and money laundering can be equally tough to set up.

And you can't exactly go to a bank and make a bunch of deposits either.

What the in holy Hell are you talking about?

Mexican traffickers used boxes specifically designed to the dimensions of an HSBC Mexico teller's window to deposit cash on a daily basis.

**CptJake**

d-usa wrote:
Very interesting, thanks. That's the kind of stuff I didn't know about.

So how does the progression usually work? Are people medics first, then advance to SOF? Learn their profession and work it in a "regular" setting before trying to advance to SOF?

Army SOF will take troops from any MOS. You first have to pass an assessment course and be accepted. Then you go through a year plus (actual time depends on primary specialty) of training called the Q Course (Qualification Course). If you make it through that you leave your old branch and become SOF. During Q Course each specialty gets the their training as well as common training all SOF troopers need. They will also attend language school. The specialized training is not all pure military. For example, the medics will do time in civilian emergency rooms to get trauma experience.

**d-usa**

Thanks for the info.

**djones520**

AF SOF has several differant jobs, that would all relate to the civilian world, sans being an expert killer.

The three types are PJ's (Pararescue) your consumate EMT who can work in ANY situation. CCT's (Combat Controllers), Air Traffic Controllers who would yawn at Chicago O'Hare's traffic, and SOWT (Special Ops Weather Technician) which is a job similar to mine, but involves routinely being behind enemy lines instead of sitting at a desk all day.

**Grey Templar**

azazel the cat wrote:
Grey Templar wrote:That is one problem with dirty money. It can be tough to spend it, and money laundering can be equally tough to set up.

And you can't exactly go to a bank and make a bunch of deposits either.

What the in holy Hell are you talking about?

Mexican traffickers used boxes specifically designed to the dimensions of an HSBC Mexico teller's window to deposit cash on a daily basis.

Ok, maybe in Mexico you can.

But you keep coming to a US bank with tens of thousands of dollars on a regular basis and people will take notice.

**sebster**

CptJake wrote:
Colombia is not totally controlled by criminal organizations. They have come a long way since the 80s- 90s, which is actually one reason the Mexican cartels have gained the power they have.

Yep, the Colombian government did great work through the 90s to basically collapse the drug cartels. There was a bounce effect as cocaine operations were then picked up by FARC and other guerilla groups, but this cost them much of their remaining support and they are a weaker political force each year, with thousands demobilising and returning to civilian life.

I mean, don't get me wrong, there's still plenty of cocaine produced in Colombia each year, but the trend is strongly in the right direction, and the legitimate economy is growing.

But you don't hear about that stuff in the media. Because a country taking the long, hard road to become a legitimate, stable democracy isn't exciting.

**Frazzled**

Grey Templar wrote:
I wonder how long until Mexico is totally controlled by criminal organizations like Colombia is.

How long? Its been that way.

**dementedwombat**

Not going to lie, retiring to some less stable country and training mercenaries/political guerrillas/gang members for a living sounds like an interesting career path. Probably not good for your long term health though.

I haven't really been following the Mexican drug business, I always figured gang warfare consisted of a bunch of drunk guys in badly fitting pants firing submachine guns in random directions out of cars while holding them sideways. If they're seriously upping their game enough to make military experience necessary then that's pretty scary.

**Orlanth**

dementedwombat wrote:

I haven't really been following the Mexican drug business, I always figured gang warfare consisted of a bunch of drunk guys in badly fitting pants firing submachine guns in random directions out of cars while holding them sideways. If they're seriously upping their game enough to make military experience necessary then that's pretty scary.

Street gang culture might be like that, but even that is partly a stereotype.

If all localised crime syndication was that clumsy the Mafia would not have outlasted the middle ages.

**Tannhauser42**

dementedwombat wrote:
Not going to lie, retiring to some less stable country and training mercenaries/political guerrillas/gang members for a living sounds like an interesting career path. Probably not good for your long term health though.

Nope, not good for your health at all. The thing about the drug business, is that you WILL get caught eventually. Either by the cops who will put you in jail, or your competitors who will put you in the ground.

**LordofHats**

sebster wrote:
But you don't hear about that stuff in the media. Because a country taking the long, hard road to become a legitimate, stable democracy isn't exciting.

I don't know where you come from sir, but nothing gets me more excited than an emerging democratic society *opens magazine on Nigeria* Ohhhhh yeah. Check out those electoral processes.

**Platuan4th**

Grey Templar wrote:
azazel the cat wrote:
Grey Templar wrote:That is one problem with dirty money. It can be tough to spend it, and money laundering can be equally tough to set up.

And you can't exactly go to a bank and make a bunch of deposits either.

What the in holy Hell are you talking about?

Mexican traffickers used boxes specifically designed to the dimensions of an HSBC Mexico teller's window to deposit cash on a daily basis.

Ok, maybe in Mexico you can.

But you keep coming to a US bank with tens of thousands of dollars on a regular basis and people will take notice.

If depositing to a personal account, sure. Not so much if depositing into a "company" account. Many small/medium businesses still deposit sizable amounts of cash daily or weekly in person.

**Tyran**

Tannhauser42 wrote:
dementedwombat wrote:
Not going to lie, retiring to some less stable country and training mercenaries/political guerrillas/gang members for a living sounds like an interesting career path. Probably not good for your long term health though.

Nope, not good for your health at all. The thing about the drug business, is that you WILL get caught eventually. Either by the cops who will put you in jail, or your competitors who will put you in the ground.

Unless your name is Joaquín Guzmán Loera.