Federal Inmate Who is a Member of Mexican Mafia Sentenced to Life in Prison for First Degree Murder of Fellow Mexican Mafia Inmate at ADX

DENVER – Richard Santiago, age 56, who was an inmate at the U.S. Administrative Maximum Prison (ADX) in Florence, Colorado, pled guilty yesterday to the first degree murder and murder by a life prisoner of a fellow ADX inmate before U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn. Immediately after the guilty plea, Judge Blackburn sentenced Santiago to serve life in federal prison without the possibility of release.  The guilty plea and sentencing were announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Calvin A. Shivers.  Santiago and co-defendant Silvestre Mayorqui Rivera were responsible for the murder of Manuel Torrez in 2005.

According to court documents, and evidence presented at Rivera’s trial, the three inmates, Rivera, Santiago and Torrez were all part of the Mexican Mafia.  Torrez and Santiago arrived at ADX in 2000.  Shortly after Rivera’s arrival, he, and Santiago murdered Torrez while the three were exercising in the recreation area that is part of the ADX’s general population unit.  Specifically, on April 21, 2005, Rivera and Santiago stomped, kicked and punched Torrez until he was dead.  Rivera was convicted of first degree murder following a jury trial, and was also sentenced to serve life in federal prison without the possibility of release.

This case was investigated by the FBI.  The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria Spencer, Susan "Zeke" Knox, M.J. Menendez and Capital Case Section Trial Attorney Jeffrey Kahan.