Carlos Rosales Mendoza
Encyclopedia
Carlos Alberto Rosales Mendoza (born 12 February 1963) is a Mexican drug lord
who founded and led an organized crime syndicate called La Familia Michoacana.
group to counter local street crime and law enforcement corruption, but eventually they became criminals themselves. La Familia Michoacana is an extremely violent drug trafficking organization operating primarily in the State of Michoacán, Mexico. Rosales designed his cartel as a compartmentalized organization heavily involved in marijuana trafficking, and it later expanded into methamphetamine
production, cocaine
trafficking, kidnapping
, extortion
and other criminal activities.
Rosales' cartel originated in the 1980s and was primarily a marijuana production and distribution organization based in the Mexican state of Michoacán
. Rosales struck a working agreement in 2000 with the Gulf Cartel
(Osiel Cárdenas Guillén) and its armed wing Los Zetas
in order to displace the Milenio Cartel
from Michoacán state. Rosales became a Gulf Cartel operator, which helped him expand his drug trafficking operations to southern Jalisco and into the State of Mexico.
According to Mexican law enforcement, La Familia Michoacana operates by means of an executive council, composed of visible leaders (business and government officials) and clandestine leaders (drug traffickers from various municipalities). It is reported that Rosales had several policemen in his payroll, and that he had a predilection for federal agents from the AFI
branch to work as his gunmen.
Later on, Rosales began using drug proceeds to fuel their propaganda that encompasses a Robin Hood
-type mentality – steal from the rich and give to the poor. They claim they are doing God’s work, beheadings are "divine justice", and pass out bibles and money to the poor, to schools and local officials.
After Rosales' arrest in 2004, Nazario Moreno González
seized control of the gang and La Familia severed ties with the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas in an effort to take control of Michoacán from any external influences, marking the birth of an independent La Familia Cartel.
Special Forces arrested Carlos Rosales Mendoza in Morelia, Michoacán on 24 October 2004, resulting in new organizational leaders: José de Jesús Méndez Vargas
and Nazario Moreno González
. Rosales is currently serving his sentence in Puente Grande, a maximum security prison.
Drug lord
A drug lord, drug baron or kingpin is the term used to describe a person who controls a sizable network of persons involved in the illegal drugs trade. Such figures are often difficult to bring to justice, as they might never be directly in possession of something illegal, but are insulated from...
who founded and led an organized crime syndicate called La Familia Michoacana.
Biography
Uncorroborated reports suggest that Rosales' gang may have initially formed as a vigilanteVigilante
A vigilante is a private individual who legally or illegally punishes an alleged lawbreaker, or participates in a group which metes out extralegal punishment to an alleged lawbreaker....
group to counter local street crime and law enforcement corruption, but eventually they became criminals themselves. La Familia Michoacana is an extremely violent drug trafficking organization operating primarily in the State of Michoacán, Mexico. Rosales designed his cartel as a compartmentalized organization heavily involved in marijuana trafficking, and it later expanded into methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
production, cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
trafficking, kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
, extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and other criminal activities.
Rosales' cartel originated in the 1980s and was primarily a marijuana production and distribution organization based in the Mexican state of Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
. Rosales struck a working agreement in 2000 with the Gulf Cartel
Gulf Cartel
The Gulf Cartel is one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico, and perhaps the oldest organized crime group in the country...
(Osiel Cárdenas Guillén) and its armed wing Los Zetas
Los Zetas
Los Zetas is the second most powerful drug cartel in Mexico and considered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as the most violent drug cartel and paramilitary enforcement group in Mexico...
in order to displace the Milenio Cartel
Milenio Cartel
The Milenio Cartel, or Cártel de los Valencia, was an organized crime gang originally based in Michoacán, Mexico. The group splintered from the Juárez Cartel in 1999 and it is currently operating as a branch of the powerful La Familia Michoacana, and has relocated to Guadalajara city.Luis Valencia...
from Michoacán state. Rosales became a Gulf Cartel operator, which helped him expand his drug trafficking operations to southern Jalisco and into the State of Mexico.
According to Mexican law enforcement, La Familia Michoacana operates by means of an executive council, composed of visible leaders (business and government officials) and clandestine leaders (drug traffickers from various municipalities). It is reported that Rosales had several policemen in his payroll, and that he had a predilection for federal agents from the AFI
Federal Investigations Agency
The Federal Investigations Agency was a Mexican federal agency that existed to fight corruption and organized crime, through an executive order by President Vicente Fox Quesada. The AFI replaced an earlier agency, the Federal Judicial Police...
branch to work as his gunmen.
Later on, Rosales began using drug proceeds to fuel their propaganda that encompasses a Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
-type mentality – steal from the rich and give to the poor. They claim they are doing God’s work, beheadings are "divine justice", and pass out bibles and money to the poor, to schools and local officials.
After Rosales' arrest in 2004, Nazario Moreno González
Nazario Moreno González
Nazario Moreno González was a Mexican drug lord of the La Familia drug cartel, headquartered in the state of Michoacán.-Biography:...
seized control of the gang and La Familia severed ties with the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas in an effort to take control of Michoacán from any external influences, marking the birth of an independent La Familia Cartel.
Arrest
Agents of the Mexican ArmyMexican Army
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue...
Special Forces arrested Carlos Rosales Mendoza in Morelia, Michoacán on 24 October 2004, resulting in new organizational leaders: José de Jesús Méndez Vargas
José de Jesús Méndez Vargas
José de Jesús Méndez Vargas is a Mexican drug lord and leader of the La Familia drug cartel, headquartered in the state of Michoacán....
and Nazario Moreno González
Nazario Moreno González
Nazario Moreno González was a Mexican drug lord of the La Familia drug cartel, headquartered in the state of Michoacán.-Biography:...
. Rosales is currently serving his sentence in Puente Grande, a maximum security prison.
See also
- La Familia Michoacana
- Mexican Drug WarMexican Drug WarThe Mexican Drug War is an ongoing armed conflict taking place among rival drug cartels who fight each other for regional control, and Mexican government forces who seek to combat drug trafficking. However, the government's principal goal has been to put down the drug-related violence that was...
- Merida InitiativeMérida InitiativeThe Mérida Initiative is a security cooperation agreement between the United States and the government of Mexico and the countries of Central America, with the declared aim of combating the threats of drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and money laundering...
- War on DrugsWar on DrugsThe War on Drugs is a campaign of prohibition and foreign military aid and military intervention being undertaken by the United States government, with the assistance of participating countries, intended to both define and reduce the illegal drug trade...