Former Mexican Police Officer Turned Cartel Leader Could Face Death Penalty If Convicted Of New Charges In The U.S.

A former cartel operative could face the death penalty if convicted of new charges in the U.S. Jose Rodolfo Villareal-Hernandez, also known as "El Gato" (The Cat), faces a murder-for-hire charge related to a 2013 case in Texas. If convicted, he could receive the death penalty, CBS News noted.

The outlet added that "El Gato" ordered the killing of men responsible for the death of his father. It cited Paul Coggins, a former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, who detailed that a rival cartel was "responsible for the death of the defendant's father" when he was part of the Beltran Leyva cartel.

"There was a long-held plot of revenge at the hart of this indictment," Coggins added. The plot ended up with the killing of Juan Jesus Guerrero Chapa in Southlake, at the moment an alleged lawyer for the rival cartel. He was shot while sitting in his car.

Others involved in the killing were convicted, but "El Gato" remained on the run for years. He was even added to the FBI's most wanted list, with the agency offering up to $1 million for information leading to his capture. He was also linked to at least ten murders in Mexico, as well as drug-trafficking operations.

"El Gato" was finally arrested in a Mexican airport in 2023. He initially managed to stop his extradition but was eventually taken to the U.S. in February along with several other top cartel leaders. He is now set to face new charges. If found guilty, he could receive the death penalty.

"Then they move to a special sentencing hearing where the jury considers you know, all these factors that cut against death penalty and in favor of death penalty, and the basic factor, the underlying factor, is did the defendant intend to kill someone, and was it premeditated?" Coggins explained.