Las Cruces Angel

Accused killer of US consulate extradited to US for trial

LAS CRUCES - One of the accused killers in the murders of a U.S. consulate employee, her husband and another man in Juárez has been extradited to the United States to stand trial, the Justice Department announced.

Miguel Angel Nevarez was among 10 alleged members and associates of a Southwest border gang indicted in the slayings of consulate employee Leslie Ann Enriquez Catton and her husband, Arthur H. Redelfs. They were killed on March 13, 2010, when gunmen opened fire on their sport utility vehicle after they left a birthday party.

Jorge Alberto Salcido Ceniceros, the husband of a Mexican employee of the consulate, also was killed by gunmen after leaving the same event in a separate vehicle.

Nevarez, 30, was charged with conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering and federal firearm charges in the killings of the three. Nevarez arrived in the United States on Thursday and made his initial appearance Friday before a federal magistrate judge in El Paso. He had been in the custody of Mexican authorities pending extradition since his arrest on Oct. 30, 2010.

A grand jury indictment unsealed in March in El Paso charged 10 defendants in the killings along with 25 other people - saying all 35 were linked to the Barrio Azteca gang. All but four of the 35 are in custody in the United States or Mexico and all including Nevarez are charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, drug distribution, drug importation and money laundering.

The indictment did not supply a motive for the killings - which U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in March were so brutal that the motive was almost irrelevant.

At the time, FBI Executive Assistant Director Shawn Henry said the case was an important step in dismantling one of the most violent gangs along the Southwest border.

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Seven Unclaimed Veterans of Las Cruces/El Paso « MIAPBLOG.us

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The Missing in America Project, along with Funeraria Del Angel Martin Central and the Dignity Memorial, made the military send-off possible to Army SP4, Louis A. Avalos, Vietnam; Army PVT Roy E. Braun, Vietnam; Army CPL Charles Gradias, WWII; Army PFC Robert Thompson, and Army SP3 Paul Hale. Air Force SGT Evelio Garcia, Korean War and Air Force SGT Victor Stahlman, Vietnam.

All seven unclaimed veterans died in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The cremains were transported from Las Cruces on June 23, 2011 to the care of Funeraria Del Angel Martin Central where they remained until July 6, 2011 when the grave side services for the soldiers were held at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery.

Members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 844, the Patriot Guard Riders of El Paso/Las Cruces were there to honor and give them a proper farewell. Also present was Mayor Kenneth D. Miyagishima of Las Cruces and Mayor John Cook of El Paso. Both mayors received a flag in honor of the seven veterans. JR Turner, Dept of Veteran Services in Las Cruces, and Jose Melendez Veteran Services of El Paso.

A letter of condolences, appreciation/thanks to all seven unclaimed veterans for their service to our country was sent from New Mexico Senator Tom Udall’s office and read at the services.

The ceremony was very close to home to Mayor John Cook an Air Force veteran and has a son (John) serving in the Air Force as a doctor in Afghanistan.

Chaplain Dave Resson from Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico officiated for the two airmen, and Chaplain Sam Faraone from Fort Bliss Army Base, Texas officiated for the five soldiers.

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