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6 charged with capital murder after deputies unravel suspected smuggling ring
More murder charges expected Friday
EDINBURG — Six people accused of a February drug-related slaying faced capital murder charges Thursday morning.
The suspects are purportedly part of a local drug smuggling group that ordered a hit on one of their own after he apparently stole a load of marijuana delivered to a customer in February, investigators said.
Hidalgo County sheriff's deputies found Gilberto Aguilar beaten and shot to death Feb. 6 in a remote field north of Palmview.
Investigators believe the leader of the smuggling group, Jose Homero “El Licenciado” Sosa Cantu, 64, ordered Aguilar’s kidnapping. Five others charged, including Sosa’s 29-year-old daughter, Erica, allegedly helped beat Aguilar with brass knuckles before shooting him in the head.
His body was abandoned near the intersection of Mile 11 1/2 North and Texan Road. Investigators said he was found with the word “rata” — Spanish for thief — written on his head.
Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said Wednesday that his investigators were close to busting the drug smuggling ring, but evidence from the Texas Rangers and Department of Public Safety's local narcotics unit expedited the arrests this week.
Deputies raided a house north of Palmview on Wednesday, where they eventually found Aguilar’s suspected hit man buried beneath layers of concrete, dirt and a chicken coop.
Investigators believe the smuggling gang killed the hit man — authorities have not disclosed his name — out of fear that he may have snitched to police about the group’s existence and Aguilar’s slaying. Formal charges for the hit man’s death are expected today.
Besides Homero and Erica Sosa, also charged with capital murder Thursday were:
>> Oscar Cantu Perez, 23.
>> Mark Anthony Garza, 20.
>> Daniel Flores Gutierrez, 25.
>> Luis Adan Alemán Marroquin, 20.
All suspects charged Thursday, except for Homero Sosa, gave investigators statements confessing to the kidnapping and murder, probable cause affidavits state. The confessions implicated Homero Sosa as a participant in the crime.
Deputies also arrested another man, whose name was not disclosed, on Thursday near La Villa, Treviño said.
Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Luis Garza handed down the charges and assessed each person an $850,000 cash surety bond.
If convicted of capital murder, each could face the death penalty.
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Jared Taylor covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4439.
