FIVE SYNDICATO NEW MEXICO PRISON GANG MEMBERS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON THIS WEEK FOR MURDERS IN AID OF RACKETEERING

ALBUQUERQUE – Five members of the Syndicato New Mexico prison gang were sentenced to life in prison this week in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M. after juries convicted them in 2018 of committing murder in aid of racketeering.

            These defendants were previously charged along with 17 others for murder and other offenses in a superseding indictment.  Several of those charged went to trial while others pleaded guilty.  On March 12, 2018, a jury found Anthony Ray Baca, 55, of Albuquerque, N.M., and Carlos Herrera, XX, of XXX. N.M., guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and murdering a person identified as J.M. on March 7, 2014.   The jury also found Baca guilty of conspiracy to murder a person identified as D.S. and another person identified as G.M.

On May 25, 2018, a separate jury found Joe Gallegos, 48, of Los Lunas, N.M., Billy Garcia, 63, of Albuquerque, N.M., and Arturo Arnulfo Garcia, 38, of Denver, Colo., guilty of multiple offenses.  In particular, the jury found Joe Gallegos and Billy Garcia guilty of murdering a person identified as F.C. on March 26, 2001.  The jury also found Joe Gallegos guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and murdering a person identified as A.B. on November 12, 2012.  The jury also found Garcia guilty of murdering a person identified as R.G. on March 26, 2001.  The jury also found Arturo Arnulfo Garcia guilty of murdering F.S. on June 17, 2007.

On June 12, 2019, Baca was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of J.M., and to XXX for conspiracy to murder J.M. and conspiracy to murder D.S. and G.M.

On June 11, 2019, Herrera was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of J.M. and to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to murder J.M.  Herrera must serve these sentences consecutively to sentences previously imposed against him in the Second Judicial District Court of New Mexico.

On June 11, 2019, Gallegos was sentenced to life in prison for murdering F.C. and A.B. and to 120 months in prison for conspiring to murder A.B.  Billy Garcia was sentenced to life in prison for murdering F.C. and R.G.  Arthuro Arnulfo Garcia was sentenced to life in prison for murdering F.S.  

Other defendants in this case have also been sentenced.  In particular, Chris Garcia, 43, of Albuquerque, N.M. pleaded guilty on January 25, 2018, to conspiracy to murder G.M and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  He also pleaded guilty in separate cases to racketeering conspiracy, distribution of cocaine and heroin, and possession with intent to distribute heroin.  Garcia received a total sentence of 30 years in prison.   

Daniel Sanchez, 46, of Albuquerque, was found guilty along with Baca and Herrera for conspiring to murder and murdering J.M.  He received a sentence of XXX.  Edward Troup, 44, of Albuquerque, N.M., was found guilty along with Arturo Arnulfo Garcia of murdering F.S. Troup received a sentence of XXX.  Andrew Gallegos, XX, of XXX, N.M. was found guilty along with Joe Gallegos of conspiracy to murder and murdering A.B.  He received a sentence of XXX.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI with assistance from the New Mexico Corrections Department, New Mexico State Police, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Metropolitan Correction Center, Albuquerque Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, and the El Paso, Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas and Knoxville FBI divisions.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico are prosecuting the case.