Sunday, July 13, 2014

USING IDENTITY OF DEAD MAN, FRAUDULENT PASSPORT, PLASTIC SURGERY AND ALTERATION OF FINGERPRINTS DID NOT WORK FOR SINALOA CARTEL LEADER

Jose Arechiga Gamboa, aka “El Chino Antrax,” was arrested in Amsterdam and extradited to the U.S. despite his elaborate efforts to conceal his true identity

Arechiga’s career with the Sinaloa drug cartel began as a cartel bodyguard. He rose in the ranks to lead the “El Antrax” group of enforcers that provided security for drug shipments and made sure that cartel members did not get out of line or snuffed those who did. Later, he became a high-level Sinaloa cartel leader.

To avoid apprehension, Arechiga went to great lengths to disguise his identity. He traveled using a dead Mexican man’s identity, obtained a phony passport, underwent extensive plastic surgery and attempted to alter his fingerprints. Ah, but all his elaborate efforts went for naught.

On December 20, a federal grand jury in San Diego indicted Jose for conspiracy to import methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana. Ten days later, he was netted in Amsterdam as he was getting off a flight from Mexico City. He fought extradition but, on May 28, a Dutch court allowed U.S. Marshals to snatch Jose for transfer to the U.S.

Arechiga arrived in San Diego on Thursday and made his first U.S. court appearance the following day when he pleaded not guilty to all charges. He did admit to his true identity. Jose is being held without bail.

It would appear that El Chino Antrax has a good case for filing a malpractice suit against his plastic surgeons.

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