El Zeta 40 Facing Capital Murder And Drug Trafficking Charges In U.S.

Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, aka, "El Zeta 40"

El Zeta 40 has been charged in connection with five homicides in Laredo.

By H. Nelson Goodson

July 16, 2013

Laredo, Texas - Miguel Ángel Treviñio Morales, 42, aka, "El Zeta 40" originally from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas who was taken into custody on early Monday by Mexican Marines near Nuevo Laredo is expected to be extradited to the U.S. to face capital murder and drug trafficking charges. Treviñio Morales had been charged in Texas for ordering the murders of Jesus Maria "Chuy" Resendez, 36, and Mariano Resendez, 15, in 2006 and three other homicides in Laredo. The homicides were committed by a teenage Zeta hit squad hired by Treviñio Morales. The hitmen were busted and later confessed to federal authorities that El Zeta 40 had ordered the killings.

The U.S. offered a $5M dollar reward for information leading to the arrest of Treviñio Morales. The U.S. government is expected to seek an extradition request for Treviñio Morales to face homicide and drug trafficking charges in the U.S.

Treviñio Morales is facing capital murder in Texas, which the death penalty could be sought. It is not clear, if the Mexican government would make an exception and extradite Treviñio Morales to face the death penalty. Mexico in the past have denied extradition of its citizens to face capital murder in the U.S., but have extradited Mexican nationals wanted for murder as long as they face life in prison instead of a death penalty.

Treviñio Morales is responsible for ordering more than 316 homicides including 266 murders in San Fernando, Tamaulipas, which 72 of those homicides were Central and South American undocumented immigrants whose bodies were found at a Zeta ranch.