The leader of a notorious street gang that perpetrates violence in Mexico was among 27 prisoners who escaped from a jail on Sunday after an orchestrated armed attack that killed 10 guards and seven inmates.
Los Mexicles leader Ernesto ‘El Neto Piñón and gang deputy César Vega escaped from Cereso State Penitentiary No. 3 in Ciudad Juárez after 19 prisoners were injured in the breakout attack.
At least 25 gunmen arrived at the prison at 7am and launched a military attack that immediately killed two guards at the entrance where visitors were waiting to enter.
The group later approached a second booth where they pinned and gunned down two more guards. They then entered the fifth cellblock of the prison, where they rescued Piñón and Vega.
Los Mexicles leader Ernesto ‘El Neto Piñón is missing after fleeing a prison in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, Sunday morning during an armed attack that killed 10 guards and seven inmates. Piñón was sentenced to 224 years in prison in 2010 after being found guilty of kidnapping and murder
Inmates are rounded up and sit outside Cereso State Penitentiary 3 shortly after security forces regained control of the prison
Ciudad Juárez authorities arrested five members of the Los Mexicles gang after a high-speed pursuit. All five suspects were arrested on attempted murder, illegal firearm possession and criminal association charges.
The gang members fled in several vehicles through the same entrance they entered when 25 inmates poured into the street and disappeared.
Authorities reported at least six car thefts involving escaping prisoners.
Ciudad Juárez police killed two gang members during a street battle and arrested five gang members after a pursuit.
All five suspects were arrested on attempted murder, illegal firearm possession and criminal association charges.
At least five of the inmates killed were suspected members of Los Mexicles.
Security forces broke into the prison and restored order after a riot and seized ten firearms, drugs, alcohol and other personal items Piñón had kept in his prison cell.
César Vega (pictured September 2015), the Los Mexicles deputy, also escaped from Cereso State Penitentiary No. 3
The other 25 prisoners were identified as Carlos Altamirano, 25; Daniel de Leon, 37; and Alejandro Ayala, 29, all jailed on kidnapping charges.
Also missing are Adán Aguirre, 32; Francisco Juárez, 26; Edgar Ortiz, 27; David Rios, 24; Joaquin Gutierrez, 42; Felix Sanchez, 43; Ivan Acosta, 39; and José Celis, 29, both of whom were jailed for murder.
Isac Rojas, 30; Brayan Celis, 24; Brian de Santiago, 19; Rodolfo Gonzalez, 41; Christian Reyes, 27; Raul Lopez, 35; Mario Gutierrez, 31; Jorge Melendez, 28; Julio Perales, 32; and Juan Carrasco, 29, were all in prison for illegal gun possession.
Jose Espinoza, 27; Ismael Garcia, 30; Daniel Rodriguez, 22; and Javier Rodriguez, 25; were jailed for assault.
Luis Jurado, 21, was in prison for burying and exhuming human bodies.
It is not known if they all have ties to Los Mexicles.
Ciudad Juárez police confiscated equipment and rifles from five members of the Los Mexicles gang who were arrested during a high-speed chase
Inmates are rounded up outside Cereso No. 3 state prison in Ciudad Juárez after Sunday morning’s deadly attack that killed 10 guards and seven prisoners
Piñón came to power as commander of Los Mexicles after Jesús “El Lalo” Soto was transferred from prison in February 2020.
He joined the gang as an 18-year-old in 2007 and has been involved in numerous criminal incidents, including kidnappings, in Ciudad Juárez, where the criminal faction served as the prime enforcer for Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán’s old Sinaloa cartel.
Piñón was found guilty of kidnapping and murder in 2010 and sentenced to 224 years in prison.
According to authorities, he also helped orchestrate a wave of attacks across Ciudad Juárez on August 11 that left 11 dead, 20 wounded and several vehicles and businesses set on fire.
The rift was reportedly prompted by Los Mexicles’ split from the Sinaloa Cartel and its new alliance with Los Aztecas, the armed wing of the Juárez Cartel.
Vega served as Piñón’s main confidante at Cereso #3 State Penitentiary, where they both shared a cell.
SUV confiscated from members of Los Mexicles gang who participated in Sunday prison raid
Security forces take action after a prison riot broke out at Cereso No. 3 State Penitentiary in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
Guns and bullets are seen outside Cereso State Penitentiary No. 3, recovered by security forces
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Vega to Mexico in September 2015, almost four years after he was arrested at a fried chicken restaurant in El Paso, Texas, where he worked as a chef.
Vega was arrested in Church’s Chicken on December 27, 2011, a year after he escaped from Mexican authorities after the prison van he was being transported in was ambushed, according to ICE.
He and seven other members of the Los Mexicles gang kidnapped Natividad Torres on September 15, 2009 at his home in Ciudad Juárez.
The kidnappers demanded around $47,000 for Torres’ release, but stole only $700, a television and a 2008 Toyota. Torres was shot four times on September 15 and released the following day.
He died as a result of the gunshot wound on October 21, and Vega and four other hijackers were arrested the next month.
Vega was sentenced to 42 years in prison for kidnapping and murder.
Visitors stand outside the entrance of Cereso State Prison No. 3 after Sunday morning’s attack on the prison that led to the escape of 27 inmates