15 Charged In RICO Case

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Fifteen members of the Texas Mexican Mafia are charged in a RICO conspiracy, said FBI agents.

In an indictment unsealed Tuesday, the 15 were charged with nine counts of conspiring in organized criminal activity. The charges range from attempted murder to extortion to drug distribution, among others.

Those charged include:

• Jorge Abel Ramirez, 32, of Hondo and Crystal City.
• Geronimo Torres, 32, of Uvalde.
• Benito Benavides, 48, of Uvalde.
• Chris Gutierrez, 19, of Uvalde.
• Albert Torres, 41, of Uvalde.
• Robert Marcus Castro, 32, of Crystal City.
• Eric Velasquez Solis, 32, of Uvalde.
• Mario Zavala, 26, of Crystal City.
• Rodolfo Villegas, 31, of Crystal City.
• Charles Martinez, 29, of Crystal City.
• Eliseo Sanchez, III, 29, of Crystal City.
• Sebastian Cortinas, 28, of Crystal City and Eagle Pass.

Charges span from Jan. 1, 2010 to Oct. 12, 2011, according to court documents.

Initial appearances for the 15 begin Wednesday in Del Rio, Texas.

If convicted, the defendants face at least 20 years in prison.