El Piolin, Zeta Leader Pled Guilty For Killing ICE Special Agent Zapata In Mexico

Four Zeta members extradited to U.S. convicted for murder and attempted murder of two ICE agents in San Luis Potosi.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 25, 2013

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that Julian Zapata Espinoza, 32, also known as “El Piolin,” plead guilty in a U.S. federal court for the murder of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agent Jaime J. Zapata, 32, and the attempted murder of ICE Special Agent Victor Avila in Mexico. Three other Zeta members in the past two years have pled guilty to related charges, Ruben Dario Venegas Rivera, 25, also known as “El Catracho,” pleaded guilty on August 1, 2011, to federal charges concerning the murder of Special Agent Zapata and attempted murder of Special Agent Avila. Jose Ismael Nava Villagran, 30, also known as “El Cacho,” pleaded guilty on January 4, 2012, also to federal charges concerning the murder and attempted murder of the ICE agents. Francisco Carbajal Flores, 38, also known as “El Dalmata,” pleaded guilty on January 10, 2012, to conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and to being an accessory after the fact to the murder and attempted murder of the ICE agents. The convicted Zetas are facing life in prison. No sentencing date has been scheduled for the convicted Zetas.
On February 15, 2011, Espinosa along with Rivera, Villagran and 12 others attempted in a roadblock to intercept an armored diplomatic vehicle on highway 57 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico driven by ICE Agent Zapata and its passenger Agent Avila. The two ICE agents were working for the ICE Attaché Office in Mexico City. They were driving from San Luis Potosi after they picked up some equipment and were returning to their home office in Mexico City when they were attacked in an ambushed.
Espinoza wanted to steal the vehicle from the occupants not knowing they were ICE agents. They chased the vehicle, rammed it and fired multiple shots at the SUV. When the SUV stopped, the door locks of the SUV malfunctioned and automatically opened after Zapata put the gear on park allowing the Zetas to get partial access into the vehicle critically wounding Zapata and injuring Avila. The agents identified themselves as ICE agents, but were able to escape the ambush and call for backup. The agents carried handguns according to Mexican media reports, but were outgunned by the high power rifles the Zetas were firing at them. The U.S. government hasn’t confirmed, if the agents were actually armed. The Mexican government prohibited U.S. agents from carrying weapons inside Mexico.
Agent Zapata later died in a Mexican hospital and Agent Avila who was hit in the leg and arm was flowned to Mexico City for treatment.
Agent Zapata was working for the ICE Laredo, Texas office in the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Unit, including the Border Enforcement Security Task Force. Avila had been assigned to the El Paso ICE Office.
When Espinoza was later arrested by Mexican military police, he confessed that he was a known leader of the Zeta group, which operated in the San Luis Potosí area and that ICE Agents Zapata and Avila were mistaken as rival drug cartel gang members by driving an armored black SUV.

Julian Zapata Espinoza, aka, “El Piolin” and deceased ICE Special Agent Jaime J. Zapata

julian zapata espinoza and jaime j zapata

suv

Federal Judge Ruled Sheriff Arpaio Violated The Rights Of Hispanics While Vigorously Enforcing Immigration Laws

Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio and his deputies must stop using racial profiling or ethnicity to enforce immigration laws in Arizona.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 24, 2013

Phoenix, AZ – On Friday, Federal U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow ruled that Arizona Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his deputies trained to detain suspected undocument immigrants in the county had violated the constitutional rights of U.S. Hispanic born citizens while enforcing immigration laws. Judge Snow issued a decision in Melendres v. Arpaio that found the policies and practices of Arpaio and his office are discriminatory, violate the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
In Judge Snow’s 142 page ruling, the judge found that Sheriff Arpaio trained his deputies to follow his policy to use race and ethnicity to help identify suspects believed to be in the U.S. illegally. Judge Snow also found, Arpaio thought that using race as a factor in enforcing immigration laws was not considered profiling of Hispanics in determining they were illegals, which federal law prohibits.
The ruling now prohibits the Maricopa County Sheriff deputies to use race or Hispanic ancestry as a factor to stop vehicles with Latino occupants to enforce immigration laws. The deputies will also be prohibited from detaining, arresting and turning over the vehicle occupants to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), unless there is “reasonable belief” they’re in the country illegally. Also, if the occupants are detained, the deputies must have reasonable suspicion that those detained had violated state human trafficking and employment laws or have committed a crime.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office plans to appeal Judge Snow’s ruling, but the departmentd will comply with the judge’s ruling.
“This is a victory for everyone,” said Cecillia Wang, director of the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project. “Singling people out for traffic stops and detentions because they are Latino is unconstitutional and just plain un-American. Let this be a warning to any agency trying to enforce the ‘show me your papers’ provision of SB 1070 and similar laws — there is no exception in the Constitution for immigration enforcement.”
The ACLU also reported that on Sept. 25, a federal appeals court confirmed that Arpaio’s office cannot detain people solely on the suspicion that they are undocumented by refusing to reverse a lower court’s ruling.
In the Ortega Melendres, et al. v. Arpaio, et al. lawsuit, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Arizona, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and the law firm Covington & Burling LLP represented a class of Latino residents and a Latino community organization, Somos America.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio

West Allis Police Detective Sterling Gets Probation And Community Service For Lying To Investigators

West Allis Detective Bradley Sterling pled guilty for a misdemeanor in connection with lying to investigators concerning an inappropriate sexually suggestive conversation with a woman.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 24, 2013

Milwaukee, WI – On Friday, West Allis Police Detective Bradley J. Sterling, 42, of Franklin pled guilty to one misdemeanor count for resisting and obstructing an officer. Sterling was sentenced to 5 months straight time in the House of Corrections, but the sentence was stayed to 12 months probation and 60 hours of community service in a domestic violence organization. He would also have to get a mental health evaluation and must take all medication as condition of probation, according to court records.
The reduced charge resulted from last January’s arrest of Sterling after a woman accused him of sexual assault. Bradley was facing charges for sexual assault and misconduct, including 9 months in jail.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office charged Sterling with a lesser charged after he contradicted himself and made a repeated statement that he never made suggestive sexual comments to a woman. Recorded conversations between Sterling and the woman contradicted his statements.
Bradley has been stripped of police powers and placed in paid administrative leave. The West Allis Police Department hasn’t confirmed, if Sterling will continue to get paid while on probation or will he be put back on the force after he completes his 12 month probation period.
Bradley apparently stopped and search the woman in January 9th near the 7100 block of W. Burnham. He found the woman attractive and told her that he wanted to have sex with her. Bradley asked the woman, if she wanted to have sex with him and use cocaine. Bradley then groped the woman’s privates while searching her, according to the initial preliminary investigation.

Bradley J. Sterling

28-year-old Female Messmer Teacher Attempts Suicide After Sexually Assaulting Boy

Messmer female science teacher tried to commit suicide after being discovered in a parked vehicle with a 14-year-old male student having sex.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 24, 2013

Milwaukee, WI – On Thursday, police were called to investigate a couple having sex around 6:30 p.m. at the Destiny High School parking lot at the 7200 block of N. 76 St. A tip led police to the school parking lot where they discovered a 14-year-old male Messmer student inside a vehicle with a 28-year-old Messmer High School female teacher. The teacher was caught having sex with the boy, according to police.
The teacher shortly after being approached by police attempt suicide, but she was taken into custody and hospitalized for non-life threatening injuries. She remains under a suicide watch and is expected to be charged with sexual assault of a child.
The 14-year-old boy was not injured in the incident, according to police.
The preliminary investigation indicates, both the teacher and boy were attending an event at the Destiny High School when they ended up in a vehicle, where the boy was sexually assaulted. Police have not confirmed, if the teacher had a history of having sex with the boy in prior occasions.

Members From The Community And Clergy Seek Transparency On Workplace Accident Reporting At Palermo’s Pizza

Five members of the community and clergy attempted to meet with Palermo Villa’s management to seek transparency of workplace accident reporting and a resolution to ongoing labor conflict.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 23, 2013

Milwaukee, WI – On Thursday, a group of labor, public officials, clergy and members of the community, including staff from Voces de la Frontera (VDLF) met outside Palermo Villa, Inc. at 3301 W. Canal St. to request transparency on workplace accident reporting and a resolution to ongoing labor conflict. A five member group was unable to meet with Palermo’s management because they didn’t have an appointment. They would have to reschedule a date to actually meet with Palermo’s management over several issues dealing with transparency and a labor conflict.
In September 2012, Steve Sallman, Safety and Health Specialist from the United Steelworkers in Pittsburgh, PA requested workplace accident reports for various injuries involving employees who authorized for their accident related records to be release by Palermo Villa. Records are required to be release in 24 hours, according to OSHA. But 21 days later, Laura Johnston, Vice President of Palermo’s Villa Human Resources released redacted employee workplace accident records to Sallman. Johnston refused to release the records to Sallman earlier because, there was “no collective bargaining in place, you are not an authorized employee representative.” Sallman then sent Johnston the employee authorization release documents and the Palermo workplace accident records were released to the union.
Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued several citations for safety violations and for withholding information about certain safety incidents against Palermo Villa, Inc. totalling $38,500 in fines. VDLF who made the announcement through a news release says, the OSHA fines comes after a 22-year-old man had three fingers amputated by a Palermo’s pizza machine on May 7.
VDLF states, the new citations issued by OSHA carry fines totaling $38,500. These include seven “serious” violations and one “Other-than-serious” violation for process safety violations surrounding the ammonia refrigeration system. Ammonia is a deadly gas that in large quantities can cause mass casualties. OSHA defines a “serious” violation as existing “when the workplace hazard could cause an accident or illness that would most likely result in death or serious physical harm.”
In addition to the numerous citations, OSHA claimed that Palermo Villa, Inc. hid (redacted) information about injuries that should have been reported.
In a cover letter dated May 17, 2013, OSHA criticized Giacomo Fallucca, Palermo’s president and CEO for redacting injury details from a federally required injury log for the period between 2008 and 2011.
OSHA also ordered Fallucca to “immediately provide the original requester copies of the un-redacted OSHA logs.”
OSHA is now the second federal agency to find Palermo Villa guilty of violating federal law. The National Labor Relations Board found in November 2012 that Palermo’s management threatened and retaliated against workers who sought union recognition and ordered 11 workers reinstated with back-pay, but Palermo Villa has yet to comply with this order, according to VDLF.

Photos: HNG/HNNUSA

palermo pizza 1

palermo pizza

Racine Fiesta Mexicana Group To Hold Event After Suspending Festival In 2012

Organizers for the Racine Fiesta Mexican are planning to hold their event in mid August after suspending their festival last year.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 23, 2013

Racine, WI – On Wednesday, Guadalupe “Wally” Rendon, Director of the Racine Fiesta Mexicana announced in the Racine Fiesta Facebook account that the group is planning to hold the event by mid August after suspending the festival last year. The Fiesta Mexicana festival incurred a debt on 2011 and the organizers, Hispanic Business and Professional Association, Inc. (HBPA) Board of Directors decided to suspend the festival in 2012.
Rendon states, that the group will most likely confirm a date over the Memorial Day weekend.
Fiesta Racine draws more than 6000 people to its 3-day fest held in August of each year. Funds generated from the fest are returned back to the community in forms of educational scholarships, food baskets, cultural events, according to Rendon.

López Won In The 8th Season Of Tengo Talento Mucho Talento Show

López won 1st place and netted $100,000 in prize money, including a contract with Estrella TV.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 22, 2013

Los Angeles, CA – On Wednesday, Hugo César López “El Muchacho Alegre” from Austin, Texas won 1st Place in the 8th season of the Tengo Talento Mucho Talento Show competition and won a $100,000 prize, including a contract with Estrella TV. López is originally from Luvianos township in the State of Mexico.
López was fired from his job as a painter and building cleaner in Austin for taking time off to participate in the show. López wanted to win, so he could pay his rent and bills that accumulated while he followed his dream. His wife in a prior program stated, “that in her eyes, he is a winner.” Now, he will continue on his quest to succeed after gaining a contract with Estrella TV.
López through his Facebook account thanked his fans and all of those who called or text to cast their vote in the show.
More than 25,000 have participated in the talent show and López was among the last 13 participants on Tuesday night.
The Tengo Talento Mucho Talento (TTMT) show is aired on Estrella TV. The TTMT TV hosts were Don Chelo, Ana Bárbara, Pepe Garza, Sergio Catalán and La Chupitos.

Hugo César López

British Soldier Murdered And Killers Wait 20 Minutes At Scene To Confront Police

Several terrorist suspects killed an unarmed British soldier by stabbing him multiple times while people watched.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 22, 2013

London, England – Police on Wednesday shot several terrorist suspects who attacked and killed an unarmed soldier dressed in civilian clothes on John Wilson Street in Woolrich. The suspects ran over the soldier near an army barracks with their vehicle and then attacked the soldier by stabbing him multiple times.
After killing the soldier, the suspects allowed people who witnessed the homicide to take amateur video of them while they made political statements. The suspects waited at least 20 minutes at the crime scene until police finally arrived.
Police then shot both suspects and were taken to separate London hospitals for treatment. Knives, a meat cleaver and a gun were recovered by police at the scene.
Witnesses told media outlets that the suspects killed the soldier because they were tired of British soldiers killing Muslims and wanted to start a war. Police haven’t confirmed, if the victim was actually a British soldier.
British authorities say, they’re handling the investigation as a terrorist act. Some members of Parliament are questioning why it took police 20 minutes to get to the crime scene, leaving people in the area in harms way.

Suspect holds bloody knives in hand while making political statements.

Photo: amateur video

Germany Takes Over Ownership Of Bieber’s Capuchin Monkey

The Nature Conversation agency in Germany has taken over the ownership of Mally after Justin Bieber failed to provide proper documents to import the Capuchin monkey.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 21, 2013

Munich, Germany – On Tuesday, the German Nature Conversation agency confirmed that Justin Bieber, 19, failed to produce proper vaccination and documents of exotic animal health authorization permits to import his Capuchin monkey named Mally into the country. Mally, a 20 week old monkey will be taken to a German Zoo.
Bieber has up to six weeks to appeal the agency’s decision to strip Bieber’s ownership. The agency will also bill Bieber for more than $2,000 for taking care of the monkey, according to the Nature Conservation agency.
Mally was seized on March 29 by German customs after Bieber was caught attempting to smuggle Mally into Germany without the proper documents. Bieber flew from Los Angeles to Germany and landed at Munich’s Franz Josef Strauss Airport where authorities discovered the monkey in Bieber’s possession.
Bieber is facing up to $15,000 in fines.

Justin Bieber and Mally

Immigration Bipartisan Bill 744 Heads To Full U.S. Senate For Consideration

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved S. 744 on Tuesday with path to citizenship for 11 million of undocumented immigrants living in the shadows.

By H. Nelson Goodson
May 22, 2013

Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on an vote of 13-5 approved the bipartisan Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 (S.744) with a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants living in the country.
The bill, which kept most of its amendments, including a key provision allowing for millions of undocumented immigrants and their children to apply for citizenship. The full Senate will begin hearing debate over S. 744 in June.
An amendment introduced by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) denying citizenship for anyone who over stayed their visas, crossed the border into the U.S. Illegally and those who were deported was rejected by the committee. Sen. Cruz told the committee members that he believes that a path to citizenship in the bill will only attract future illegal immigration into the U.S. and the House of Representatives would reject S. 744 for allowing a path to citizenship.
A total of 48 Republican amendments were adopted by the Judiciary Committee.
Anti-immigrant groups were disappointed with Tuesday’s passage of S. 744 and are claiming, if the bill is passed it will allow more than 50 million immigrants to legally enter the U.S., which will cost the U.S. 6.3 trillion in a 10-year period. None of the anti-immigrant groups claiming the exaggerated numbers justified their findings.