Mexico handed over 29 bosses from a cartel designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) by the Trump administration on Thursday. The list includes the assassin of the accused of a Dallas cartel lawyer, which US authorities have been hoping for 13 years. The first known image of Jose Rodolfo Villar Hernandez – “El Gato” – was first revealed by Breitbart Texas.
Jose Rodolfo Villarreal Hernandez – “El Gato” was sought by the FBI on charges of Jesus Guerrero Chapa, who became a governmental information about the Gulf Cartel lawyer in May 2023. Federal authorities initially arrested and charged Jesus Gerald “Eltuy” Ledezma Cepeda, sons Jesus Ledezma Campano and Jose Luis Cepeda Cortez in September 2014, indicted him in murder, Breitbart Texas reported.
Breitbart later reported that the man was acting under the orders of Rodolfo “Ergato” Virial Hernandez, according to the FBI. The execution was due to Vilareal's accusation of Guerrero of his father's murder. For the murder, Villarreal dispatched two of his assassins from Mexico. Mexico traveled to Southlake to run Guerrero Chapa.
In November 2018, Breitbart Texas released the first known image of “Elgato.”
Law enforcement sources have only revealed to Breitbart News that Villarreal, then 40, was the mastermind behind the widespread terror of wealthy companies, a recent spike in executions and the mastermind behind washing millions of real estate companies with illegal funds. The organization, led by a man known as “Elgato,” is linked to 15 recent famous murderers in San Pedro. Law enforcement sources revealed that Villarreal was able to gain the loyalty of several state, federal and city authorities working in San Pedro.
Villarreal climbed the ranks of the Bertran Leiba Cartel until he became a regional boss in the Monterrey region. He later engaged in a fierce territorial battle with former boss Hector “Labra or HH” Fuertalios. The battle between Villarreal and Fuerta Rios began after the latter was released from prison. Villarreal is believed to be targeting all known peers of his former boss. However, official sources say Mexican authorities were hesitant to intervene.
In October 2020, Breitbart reported that the FBI had added “Elgato” to its list of most tired fugitives. Authorities also linked Elgato's organization to the 2018 murder of lawyer Alberto Peña Veles. The lawyers were part of a large money laundering group that worked for politicians and cartels. Former San Pedro police officer Cesar Augusto Espino Zarilla committed the murder. The former Mexican police confessed to Hit and told authorities that the victim had washed the money using a shell company and a false bill, but law enforcement sources refused to pay the fees or royalties Elgato requested.
It was not until January 2023 that Mexican authorities arrested Elgato in Mexico City. The Mexican Attorney General's Office (FGR) has revealed that their agents, the Mexican Marines and detectives from the Nuevo Leon State Bureau of Investigation (AEI) are the state entities that El Gato's intelligence report work and years of investigation led to his capture.
The US Department of Justice quickly began the process of handing over the fleeing cartel boss to Mexico.
“El Gato” was a former Mexican federal police officer who became the boss of the region along with Bertran Leyva Cartel. He later broke and founded a criminal empire in San Pedro, a wealthy suburb of the Monterrey Metropolitan area, in the border province of Nuevo León. Elgato's organization quietly established a massive terror operation known as “La oficina” or office, focusing on the targets of construction contractors, Breitbart Texas reported exclusively. La Oficina also reportedly managed a massive money laundering task in San Pedro, one of Mexico's wealthiest cities. In Nuevo Leon, El Gato and his men are said to be associated with many tricks, terrors and murders.
Mexico eventually handed over the fugitives to US authorities on February 27 after President Trump and the US State Department designated certain Mexican cartels as FTOs.
“Elgato” is set for arrest in US District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
“As President Trump has made it clear, the cartel is a terrorist group, and the Justice Department is dedicated to destroying cartels and cross-border gangs,” Attorney General Pamela Bondy said in writing. “We will prosecute these criminals to the fullest of the law, paying tribute to brave law enforcement agents who have dedicated their careers and in some cases have given their lives to protect innocent people from the violent cartel tragedy. We will not rest until we have secured American justice.”
“The FBI and our partners will scrutinise the edge of the planet to bring terrorists and cartel members to justice,” added FBI Director Kash Patel. “The days of hurting Americans and walking freely are over.”
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist for the Breitbart News Foundation. He co-founded with Cartel Chronicles Project, Brandon Darby and senior Breitbart Management of the Breitbart News Foundation. You can follow him Twitter And on Facebook. You can contact him iortiz@breitbart.com.
Bob Price He is an associate editor and senior news contributor for the Breitbart Texas-Border team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a regular panelist for Fox 26 Houston What is your point? Sunday morning talk show. He also serves as president Blue Wonder Gun Care Products.
