SURPRISE! FBI CASTS DOUBTS ON GUILT OF CARTEL-SUPPLIED SUSPECTS IN LAST WEEK'S KIDNAPPING OF FOUR AMERICANS

"FBI warned that those detained for the kidnapping in Matamoros might not be related to the case."

It is assumed that the Gulf Cartel was  behind the deprivation of liberty of US citizens Latavia McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown and Erick James Williams.

By Joel Cano

infobae

The case of the four US citizens kidnapped in Matamoros, Tamaulipas could take a radical turn. And it is because the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  doubts the responsibility of the people who have been arrested so far and who have been identified as alleged members of the Gulf Cartel.

On March 8, five days after the kidnapping, five men handcuffed and alive were found in the streets of downtown Matamoros along with a message that pointed out that they were responsible for depriving Latavia McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown and Eric James Williams.

The cardboard was signed by the "Grupo Escorpión" – the armed wing of the Gulf Cartel. Through it, an "apology" was made to society for the "indiscipline" of its members, since it led to the death of two Americans (Zindell and Shaeed). 

"For this reason, we have decided to hand over those directly involved and responsible for the events, who at all times acted on their own determination," it read.

Although the Tamaulipas authorities have managed to arrest six people allegedly involved in the events of March 3, the FBI has expressed that it has doubts about the responsibility of those apprehended, reported the journalist from Milenio, Víctor Hugo Michel, in his March 19 program.

Diplomatic sources informed Micjhel that the FBI  had access to exclusive information that would point to the participation of three other people, according to their own investigations. The United States Government has indicated that the five handcuffed men who appeared on the streets of Matamoros are not the true kidnappers of their fellow citizens, despite the fact that they themselves accredited their alleged involvement.

That is why the FBI has asked the Tamaulipas Prosecutor's Office for more information on what happened. However, so far the Mexican authorities have not ruled on these new accusations.

Based on the reports made, José Alberto García Vilano, alias "La Kena," is the main suspect in the kidnapping of the Americans. This subject has been identified as a plaza boss of the Gulf Cartel in Matamoros. Due to his involvement in other crimes, authorities are offering a reward of up to $2,500,000 pesos for information leading to his whereabouts or arrest.

Faced with questions about the reasons for his trip, the Americans reiterated that they went to Matamoros for cosmetic surgery that Latavia was going to undergo. "He had nothing to do with drugs," Williams said, while indicating that he is in the recovery stage under medical supervision.

It should be remembered that after this kidnapping, it was reported that three of the four US citizens had criminal records related to crimes against health, according to court records. However, James Williams was the only one who was not involved in the manufacture and trade of drugs.

The six men who have been arrested for the crimes of aggravated kidnapping and intentional simple homicide were identified as Antonio de Jesús "V", Luis "V", Ever Noel "H", Juan Francisco "L", Gustavo "M" and José "N". All of them have been linked to the process. In these events, a Mexican woman by the name of Areli Pablo also lost her life, who died from a stray bullet.