FBI: Barrio Azteca chief also wanted on money laundering, racketeering charges

EL PASO, Texas – After eight and a half years on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list, authorities have arrested gang captain Barrio Azteca, based in El Paso / Cuidad Juarez, Mexico.

On June 26, 2018, the Procuraduria General of the Republica de Mexico (PGR) arrested FBI fugitive Eduardo Ravelo, aka "Tablas", in Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico. The arrest of Ravelo comes after the FBI El Paso and the El Paso safe band working group have reviewed the tracks on the possible location of the fugitive.

Under the heading of "Capo", the highest rank available in the Barrio Azteca street gang, the authorities allege that Ravelo is responsible for giving orders to Barrio Azteca members in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico. In addition to his alleged involvement in the transnational gang, Ravelo was wanted by the FBI for alleged money laundering, racketeering and drug activities in El Paso, Texas.

According to the authorities, members of Ravelo and Barrio Azteca allegedly worked as "hitmen" for the drug trafficking organization Vicente Carrillo Fuentes and, as such, could be responsible for many murders. This includes his alleged involvement in the murders of an employee of the United States Consulate, an employee of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, and the husband of an employee of the United States Consulate. United which occurred on March 13, 2010 in Cuidad Juarez.

The criminal activities of Ravelo allegedly began in 2003.

On October 20, 2009, Ravelo was the 493rd person on the FBI's "Top Ten Fugitives" list, and is now the 485th to be captured. In addition, Ravelo is the 23rd "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" to be arrested in Mexico. In 2008 and 2011, Ravelo was indicted in the US District Court in the Western District of Texas.

With the help of the PGR, the FBI, the El Paso Police Department, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office and various other organizations, Ravelo was found and detained.

"Eight and a half years ago we added Eduardo Ravelo to the list of the 10 most wanted FBI fugitives," said FBI El Paso SAC Emmerson Buie, Jr. "I'm proud of the hard work of our agents and of our domestic and international law enforcement partners in the apprehension of this dangerous and violent fugitive. "