Ivan A. Santiago Convicted, Facing Life In Prison For The Homicide Of Humberto Varela Caballero In Milwaukee

Santiago facing life in prison for intentional homicide without the possibility of parole plus 250 years in prison on 10 other felony counts.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 16, 2019

Milwaukee, WI - On Wednesday, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court jury found Ivan A. Santiago, 24, guilty on 11 felony counts including 1st-degree intentional homicide for the murder of Humberto Varela Caballero, 30, in October 2017. Santiago is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on July 19. He is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole for one count of intentional homicide including as party to a crime with a dangerous weapon charge, two counts of armed robbery with use of force (facing 40 years in prison and $100K in fines on each count), one count of attempted robbery as party to a crime, (facing 40 years in prison and $100K in fines), two counts of 1st-degree reckless endangering safety as party to a crime with a dangerous weapon (facing 12 years in prison and $25K in fines for each count), two counts of burglary while armed as party to a crime, (facing 40 years in prison and $100K in fines on each count), one count of possession to sell THC (200-1000g) (facing 6 years in prison and $10K in fines) and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felony (facing 10 years in prison and $25K in fines on each count).

Rodolfo Pantojas-Juarez, 26, and Marco R. Felipe, 25, were also convicted of multiple felonies in connection with  Caballero's murder.

Pantojas-Juarez was convicted and sentenced to prison on March 22, 2019 for the following felony counts, one count for armed burglary with a dangerous weapon (sentenced to 10 years in prison and with confinement of 5 years and 5 years supervision), one count for felony murder (sentenced to 40 years in prison with confinement of 25 years and 14 years supervision), and one count of 1st-degree recklessly endangering safety (sentenced to 10 years in prison with confinement of 5 years and 5 years supervision), all counts to be served concurrently.

Felipe was convicted and sentenced to prison on April 29, 2019 for the following felony counts, one count of armed robbery as party to a crime  (sentenced to 10 years in prison with confinement of 5 years and supervision of 5 years), one count of burglary as party to a crime with a dangerous weapon (sentenced to 4 years in prison with confinement of 2 years and 2 years supervision to be served concurrently with count of armed robbery) and 1st-degree recklessly endangering safety as party to a crime with a dangerous weapon (sentenced to 14 years in prison with confinement of 10 years and 4 years supervision to be served consecutively with the two previous counts).

According to the criminal complaint, the suspects, Santiago and Pantojas-Juarez were charged with fatally shooting Varela Caballero during an armed robbery just outside his Milwaukee Southside residence located at the 2100 block of S. 7th Street. Varela Caballero suffered four gunshot wounds to the chest.

The criminal complaint says, that police found a 9mm handgun at Santiago's home and spent cartridges found at 5 separate crime scenes were connected to the same weapon including an armed robbery shooting on October 30th of a man seating in a vehicle near the 3200 block of W. Lincoln Ave. The 49-year-old victim survived, he was shot multiple times.

Also, Santiago had fired his handgun at several Parking Checkers with the Department of Public Works including one at the 1300 black of W. Orchard. A parking checker was going to issue a citation to Santiago's vehicle when he fired his weapon over the head of the checker.

Another shooting incident happened when a parking checker noticed a home invasion and followed the suspect's vehicle near the 1300 block of W. Waterford and Santiago fired gunshots at the checker.

Felipe confessed to police that he also participated in several home invasions.

Pantojas-Juarez was connected to a Mexican drug cartel, which he apparently owed money too after someone stole 15 kilos of cocaine from him and had about 50 to 70 days to repay the cartel, so he went on a crime spree targeting suspected drug dealers and other victims that included kidnappings, home invasions, robbery and torture of some victims along with Santiago and Felipe from October 11 to October 31 to get cash to repay his drug cartel debt, according to the criminal complaint.