A Gulf Cartel lieutenant is facing charges for his alleged role in a 2021 shootout that killed 14 innocent bystanders. The local organized crime boss was also accused of numerous kidnappings in various border cities in Tamaulipas.
During a hearing inside a federal detention center in the state of Coahuila, a Mexican federal judge formally charged Juan Miguel “Metro 56 or Miguelito” Rizaldi Castro with one count of participating in organized crime. He was ordered held without bail on the charges. Rizzardi also faces state charges in Tamaulipas in connection with numerous kidnappings.
Gulf Cartel Commander Juan Miguel Rizaldi Castro, aka Metro 56 or El Miguelito (Credit: Breitbart Texas/Cartel Chronicles)
The federal charges against Lizardi are related to a June 2021 shootout in the border city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, according to information provided to Breitbart Texas by the Mexican Attorney General's Office. Gunmen from the Gulf Cartel then entered the city and began shooting. He saved an innocent bystander before colliding with rival gunmen, also from the Gulf Cartel.
Breitbart Texas reported at the time that Tamaulipas State Police rushed in and fought off the gunmen, managing to kill four people before fleeing, while the gunmen killed 14 innocent victims. Ta. The shootout was one of many instances in which Mexican federal forces and the military did not participate in the conflict. Instead, they left the fighting to the Tamaulipas state police, who arrived simply to provide border control once the fighting was over.
Federal prison in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila (Credit: Breitbart Texas/Cartel Chronicles)
As Breitbart Texas previously exclusively reported, state police arrested Lizardi during a raid last month, but one of the gunmen arrested him after the officer refused to accept a bribe to let him escape. He slapped her and started assaulting her. After his arrest, state police handed him over to federal prosecutors, and he was transferred to the federal detention center in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, where he is expected to await an organized crime trial.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist at Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Breitbart, Texas Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and Breitbart's senior management team. you can follow him Twitter And even more facebook. He can be contacted at: iortiz@breitbart.com.
Brandon Darby is managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Breitbart, Texas Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and Breitbart's senior management team. please follow him Twitter and facebook. He can be contacted at: bdarby@breitbart.com.
