The social network has become a tool for furthering one’s criminal endeavors.
PRISON GANG MEMBER USED CRAIGLIST TO RECRUIT DRIVERS TO TRANSPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
Jose Gustavo Diaz-Velasquez told investigators he had arranged for transport of thousands of illegal immigrants during the past year using 30 drivers he hired through Craiglist
By Lynn Brezosky
The Houston Chronicle
March 26, 2012
BROWNSVILLE — An illegal immigrant and Texas prison gang member has been charged with using Craigslist to recruit drivers to transport illegal immigrants within the Rio Grande Valley, by his accounts for the Gulf Cartel.
Border Patrol agents on March 14 arrested Jose Gustavo Diaz-Velasquez, 29, of Mexico, in Rio Grande City after an investigation into 10 Craigslist ads that were traced to Diaz's email accounts.
According to a March 15 criminal complaint, Diaz told investigators he had arranged for transport of thousands of illegal immigrants during the past year using 30 drivers he hired through Craigslist. Drivers were paid $75 to $85 per person transported, he said.
Diaz also told investigators he recruited through Facebook and admitted to posting a dash-cam video of a high-speed pursuit of himself to YouTube.
He said he was working directly for the Gulf Cartel and had become affiliated with the Valluco gang while serving a five-year state prison term.
Homeland Security Investigations agents had been investigating the postings since August 2011 and used Internet addresses to track the data to a McAllen apartment rented by Diaz's wife.
Agents interviewed 10 people who were hired to transport the immigrants, four of whom identified Diaz through a photo lineup. Other cooperating sources provided agents information on email accounts and phone numbers.
One driver, Christopher Joseph McClaskey, was apprehended by Border Patrol agents on March 13 with four illegal immigrants. McClaskey provided information that helped lead to Diaz's arrest the next day.
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