A court of appeals a United States deny the reopening of the case of Nancy Michelle Mendoza, A young woman who was sentenced to double life imprisonment for kidnapping almost 10 years ago members of the cartel of Arellano Félix, to collect thousands of dollars for their rescues.
According to the authorities of the California Attorney’s Office, Nancy ventured into the kidnapping of drug traffickers because she was the girlfriend of the head of a criminal organization called the Chopsticks, A split of the Arellano cartel that later separated and began to kidnap.
The young woman born in Tijuana was sentenced in 2012 after the government of United States determine that between 2004 and 2007 he was involved in the kidnapping of 13 people, mostly drug traffickers and their families living in California. A round business: they could not go to the authorities to report the extortion and deprivation of liberty, Since they were also criminals and their economic gains derived from the drug sales.
The most visible case where he participated Nancy Mendoza, And which can be read in the transcripts of the file rooted in the California Attorney’s Office and what MILLENNIUM reviewed, was the kidnapping of Eduardo González Torrat, a well-known drug dealer of the Arellano cartel, owner of seafood restaurants in Tijuana and that they served as the scene of assassinations between rival gangs.
The case was visible as they were first reported in more than three years. The band of the Chopsticks he did not know that Torrat was already cooperative witness of the United States and that he was betraying the operations of the Arellano cartel. That’s why when he was kidnapped, the family was able to contact the FBI.
According to the story of Testat himself, he met Mendoza through a mutual friend in a cafe. The relationship quickly progressed, until on June 8, 2007 it was cited by Mendoza at 1539 Point Dume Street, in Chula Vista, San Diego, Where supposedly the young woman lived.
When he reached the door of the house, he heard a blow to the head: “There were two people coming running and one of them was carrying a gun and the other was dressed as a policeman. With black vests, caps, face covered “.
“They threw me on the floor and gave me electric shocks in the lower back and they tied me up. I could no longer move. They called my wife and said, “Look, old punch, if you want to see your husband again or if you don’t want me to tear you to pieces, you better answer the phone.”
the Chopsticks, The gang to which the young woman belonged, demanded a ransom of one million dollars. The family agreed to the delivery not without first contacting the FBI; agents put a tracking device in the money briefcase.
It was as well as the 16 of June of 2007, and after seven days of the secretion, the The FBI released Torrat. Nancy managed to leave the United States; however, in 2010 it was confiscated in Tijuana and was later extradited to California.
Nancy Mendoza was also involved in the kidnapping of Jorge García Vázquez, A 58-year-old man who was the brother-in-law of the Chuy Labra, Councilor and historical leader of the Arellano Félix Cartel. He did this by enrolling in the gym where he worked at San Diego, California.
They refuse to reopen the case
It was in 2012 that Mendoza was sentenced to spend her entire life in prison: she was found guilty and sentenced to double life imprisonment. However, Eduardo Torrat, the man he kidnapped and was a member of Arellano Félix, he became a protected witness; it is free and no one knows its whereabouts.
On June 23 and for the first time since she was imprisoned, Mendoza filed an appeal with the state court of appeals. California a request for a judge to re-determine whether his arrest and detention was illegal; in addition, the young woman argued that during her trial she did not receive adequate legal advice. he was looking for a new trial.
However, the Supreme Court of this country considered that the probationary conditions for doing so were not met and recalled that “in 2007, when he was 18, Mendoza participated in a plan of kidnapping for rescue with a Mexican drug cartel”.
They acknowledged that at the time the defense attorney accused the trial was cruel and inhuman, Especially because Nancy was young; but the defense did no more.
Nancy will stay in prison for life, In contrast to the men who led the criminal organization she allegedly kidnapped: The Arellano Felix. They continue to lower their sentences, pact with the authorities and hand over fortunes in exchange for privileges.
For example, this week and after serving only 10 years in prison out of the 15 he was sentenced to, Eduardo Arellano Félix, leader of the Tijuana Cartel and financial operator of the organization that trafficked drugs since the decade, was released. of 1980.
DMZ