Barrio Azteca Juarez gang member gets three life sentences for role in U.S. consulate killings

A Barrio Azteca gang member has been sentenced to three life sentences for serving as the radio communications chief in the 2010 ambush slayings of three people linked to the U.S. Consulate in Juarez, according to the El Paso Times.

Ricardo “Chino” Valles de la Rosa faces the maximum life sentence on three counts of racketeering and drug conspiracy, plus 20 years for money laundering, the Times reported.

The sentence comes seven years after the Barrio Azteca attack on two cars leaving a birthday party in Juarez. In one car was U.S. Consulate worker Lesley Enriquez and her husband Arthur Redelfs, an El Paso County Detention Officer, who were both killed. Their baby daughter was in the car but was unharmed.

In the same attack, a separate car had Jorge Alberto Salcedo Ceniceros, whose wife worked at the consulate. He died in the ambush while the multiple children also in the car were unharmed.

Valles de la Rosa admitted to tracking down the cars and directing the gang to gun down the victims.

He said at his sentencing he has already served 20 years in prison.

Another Barrio Azteca gang member is serving jail time after being found guilty in the same case.