Latest news with #Guajardo
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Suspects plead guilty in two separate deadly fentanyl cases in Travis County
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The 167th District Courtroom at the Travis County Courthouse saw two guilty pleas Friday related to deadly fentanyl cases. In the case of 67-year-old Curtis Habbit, prosecutors and defense attorneys reached a plea deal for 10 years of probation with conditions. Habbit was arrested last year in connection with a 2023 case where police believe he sold suspected fentanyl pills to a woman, who was later found dead in her southeast Austin apartment. Further details about his punishment will be hashed out at his sentencing hearing next month. Luis Guajardo also plead guilty in his case related to the May 2022 death of John Salem, 38. According to Guajardo's arrest affidavit, he sold counterfeit Percocet pills to Salem, and the investigation revealed the pills contained fentanyl. The affidavit also states Guajardo told Salem the drugs did not contain fentanyl. Guajardo pled guilty, but not because of a plea deal — instead, he chose to move forward with the punishment phase of trial, during which Judge Dayna Blazey will determine his sentence. That hearing is scheduled for July 14 and 15. In-Depth: How a fentanyl dealer can get charged with murder in Texas Both Habbit and Guajardo were arrested on charges of manufacturing and/or delivering a controlled substance that caused death or serious bodily injury. Habbit is currently in custody, according to Travis County jail records. Guajardo is not. 'I don't think anyone should have to find their brother dead, much less at the hands of someone else,' said Stewart Mann, Salem's older brother. He said his family has been coming to court hearings for almost three years hoping to see the case move forward. 'Hoping for a sentence, hoping for justice, you know?' he said. Salem's mother, Libby Pender, said Salem was a college graduate and working as a business development manager. 'John as the funniest, friendliest, person you could ever imagine, the kindest, big-hearted,' Pender said. 'He didn't care what walk of like you were in, he was your friend.' In 2023, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill that allowed prosecutors to seek murder charges for fentanyl dealers or manufactures when a recipient dies as a result of the drug. The law went into effect September 1, 2023. For context, Guajardo's case happened before the law went into effect, Habbit's happened after. The law states a suspect must know they're dealing fentanyl for murder charges to be possible. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
2 alleged members of Barrio Azteca extradited in Consulate murders
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Two alleged members of Barrio Azteca, a transnational criminal organization allied with the Juarez Cartel, were extradited from Mexico to the United States to face charges related to the 2010 murders of U.S. Consulate employees in Juarez. That's according to the U.S. Justice Department, which sent out a news release on Monday, Feb. 24 about the extraditions. Eduardo Ravelo, also known as Tablas, Tablero, and T-Blas, and Enrique Guajardo Lopez, also known as Kiki, arrived in the United States on Thursday, Feb. 20, and made their initial appearances Monday in the Western District of Texas. Ravelo, a former FBI Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitive, and Guajardo were charged in a 12-count third superseding indictment unsealed in March 2011, the Justice Department said. 'The defendants allegedly participated in the murder of three U.S. Consulate employees in Mexico in March 2010, along with many other acts of senseless violence,' Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. 'No U.S. citizen, on either side of our border with Mexico, should have to live in fear of Barrio Azteca, any other violent border gang, or any drug cartel. The defendants' extradition to the United States is an example of the Department's unwavering commitment to eliminating transnational criminal organizations and the pursuit of justice for the victims of those tragic murders in Juarez, Mexico.' Acting U.S. Attorney for West Texas Margaret Leachman said: 'The extradition and U.S. custody of these two defendants, who are both alleged to be members of Barrio Azteca operating along the border, is essential to our mission of disrupting and dismantling these dangerous criminal organizations. With the help of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, this U.S. Attorney's Office will aggressively prosecute Ravelo and Guajardo throughout this case for their alleged participation in the 2010 Consulate murders and other gang related activity.' A total of 35 Barrio Azteca members and associates based in the United States and Mexico were charged in the third superseding indictment for allegedly committing various criminal acts, including racketeering, narcotics distribution and importation, retaliation against persons providing information to U.S. law enforcement, extortion, money laundering, obstruction of justice and murder, the U.S. Justice Department said. Of the 35 defendants, 10 Mexican nationals, including Ravelo and Guajardo, were charged with the March 13, 2010, murders in Juarez of U.S. Consulate employee Leslie Ann Enriquez Catton; her husband, Arthur Redelfs; and Jorge Alberto Salcido Ceniceros, the husband of another U.S. Consulate employee. All the defendants have been apprehended, and 28 have pleaded guilty. Three defendants have been convicted at trial, one committed suicide before the conclusion of his trial, and one is awaiting extradition from Mexico, the Justice Department said. According to court documents and evidence presented at co-defendant trials, Barrio Azteca is a violent street and prison gang that began in the late 1980s and expanded into a transnational criminal organization. In the 2000s, the BA formed an alliance in Mexico with 'La Linea,' which is part of the Juarez Drug Cartel (also known as the Vincente Carrillo Fuentes Drug Cartel or VCF), according to the Justice Department. 'The purpose of the BA-La Linea alliance was to battle the Chapo Guzman Cartel and its allies for control of the drug trafficking routes through Juarez and Chihuahua. The drug routes through Juarez, known as the Juarez Plaza, are important to drug trafficking organizations because they are a principal illicit drug trafficking conduit into the United States.' the Justice Department said. According to court documents, Ravelo and Guajardo participated in BA activities, including narcotics trafficking and acts of violence by BA members, both in Mexico and the United States. If convicted, Ravelo and Guajardo each face a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Ravelo's and Guajardo's extraditions are the result of 'close coordination' between U.S. law enforcement and the government of Mexico in the investigation and prosecution of this case, the Justice Department said. The cooperation and assistance of the government of Mexico was essential to achieving successful extraditions, the Justice Department added. The FBI El Paso Field Office; FBI Albuquerque Field Office, Las Cruces Resident Agency; Drug Enforcement Administration Juarez Division; and DEA El Paso Division investigated the case. Special assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Diplomatic Security Service; Texas Department of Public Safety; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; El Paso Police Department; El Paso County Sheriff's Office; El Paso Independent School District Police Department; Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission; New Mexico State Police; Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office; Las Cruces Police Department; Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility; and Otero County Prison Facility. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Business news: PNW professor earns national award and local students intern in Statehouse
Amiah Alexanderson and McKayla Guajardo are serving as interns for the Indiana Senate Majority Caucus during the 2025 legislative session, according to a release from State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell. Currently enrolled at Indiana University in Bloomington, Alexanderson, a Crown Point High School graduate, is the daughter of Amy Alexanderson and Lewis Harris. Guajardo, also a Crown Point grad attending Indiana University-Bloomington, is the daughter of Adam Guajardo. As legislative interns, Guajardo and Alexanderson track and analyze bill data, provide constituent services, staff Senate committee hearings and meetings, and conduct legislative policy research, the release said. The Valparaiso Police Department is looking for 2025 Citizens' Police Academy members, a release said. The department's citizen academy provides an opportunity for community members to experience what it is like to be a police officer and is designed for attendees 18 and older to meet police officers and learn about their assignments, specialties, and daily operations, the release said. The academy will meet from 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning April 15 for six weeks, concluding with a graduation ceremony on May 20. All classes will take place at the Valparaiso Police Department, For information, contact Capt. E.J. Hall no later than March 21 at info@ including full legal name, date of birth, address, phone number, and T-shirt size. Franciscan Health will be hosting a virtual diabetes prevention program online starting at 5 p.m. April 8, a release said. Franciscan Health's Diabetes Prevention Program follows guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that have been proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Groups meet weekly for a total of 16 sessions, prior to six monthly follow-up sessions with a trained lifestyle coach, the release said. Throughout the course of the program, participants work with a certified healthy lifestyle coach who guides them in practices to lose weight, move more, reduce stress and build confidence. The program is only open to participants ages 18 and older who have been diagnosed with prediabetes, not those who have previously been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, the release said. The year-long program costs $99 and is covered for approved Medicare beneficiaries. To register, please complete the DPP Qualifying Questionnaire online by clicking here. Purdue University Northwest Associate Professor of Nursing Julia Rogers was awarded the American Association of Nurse Practitioners' (AANP) 2025 Award for Outstanding Contributions for the state of Indiana, according to a release. The AANP State Award for Outstanding Contributions recognizes nurse practitioners who demonstrate exceptional impact in advancing the NP profession at the state level. Selection criteria emphasize the nominee's proven track record in fostering health care innovation through evidence-based practice, mentorship, strategic partnerships and advocacy efforts, the release said. In earning her award, Rogers is specifically recognized by AANP in the core pillars of practice, education, advocacy, research or leadership (PEARL), the release said. In 2022, Rogers was named an AANP Fellow, the first PNW Nursing faculty member to receive the honor. Franciscan Health Crown Point has been recognized as being in the top 100 in the nation for medical excellence in major cardiac surgery and coronary bypass surgery by CareChex® Awards by BluCareChex Quantros, a release said. The 2025 quality awards from CareChex are based on their comprehensive quality scoring system that compares inpatient quality performance across general, acute and non-federal U.S. hospitals.
Chicago Tribune
23-02-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Business news: PNW professor earns national award and local students intern in Statehouse
Crown Point graduates intern at Indiana Statehouse Amiah Alexanderson and McKayla Guajardo are serving as interns for the Indiana Senate Majority Caucus during the 2025 legislative session, according to a release from State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell. Currently enrolled at Indiana University in Bloomington, Alexanderson, a Crown Point High School graduate, is the daughter of Amy Alexanderson and Lewis Harris. Guajardo, also a Crown Point grad attending Indiana University-Bloomington, is the daughter of Adam Guajardo. As legislative interns, Guajardo and Alexanderson track and analyze bill data, provide constituent services, staff Senate committee hearings and meetings, and conduct legislative policy research, the release said. Participants wanted for Valparaiso Citizens' Police Academy The Valparaiso Police Department is looking for 2025 Citizens' Police Academy members, a release said. The department's citizen academy provides an opportunity for community members to experience what it is like to be a police officer and is designed for attendees 18 and older to meet police officers and learn about their assignments, specialties, and daily operations, the release said. The academy will meet from 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning April 15 for six weeks, concluding with a graduation ceremony on May 20. All classes will take place at the Valparaiso Police Department, For information, contact Capt. E.J. Hall no later than March 21 at info@ including full legal name, date of birth, address, phone number, and T-shirt size. Virtual diabetes program planned Franciscan Health will be hosting a virtual diabetes prevention program online starting at 5 p.m. April 8, a release said. Franciscan Health's Diabetes Prevention Program follows guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that have been proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Groups meet weekly for a total of 16 sessions, prior to six monthly follow-up sessions with a trained lifestyle coach, the release said. Throughout the course of the program, participants work with a certified healthy lifestyle coach who guides them in practices to lose weight, move more, reduce stress and build confidence. The program is only open to participants ages 18 and older who have been diagnosed with prediabetes, not those who have previously been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, the release said. The year-long program costs $99 and is covered for approved Medicare beneficiaries. To register, please complete the DPP Qualifying Questionnaire online by clicking here. Faculty member earns national recognition Purdue University Northwest Associate Professor of Nursing Julia Rogers was awarded the American Association of Nurse Practitioners' (AANP) 2025 Award for Outstanding Contributions for the state of Indiana, according to a release. The AANP State Award for Outstanding Contributions recognizes nurse practitioners who demonstrate exceptional impact in advancing the NP profession at the state level. Selection criteria emphasize the nominee's proven track record in fostering health care innovation through evidence-based practice, mentorship, strategic partnerships and advocacy efforts, the release said. In earning her award, Rogers is specifically recognized by AANP in the core pillars of practice, education, advocacy, research or leadership (PEARL), the release said. In 2022, Rogers was named an AANP Fellow, the first PNW Nursing faculty member to receive the honor. Franciscan Health Crown Point earns national notice Franciscan Health Crown Point has been recognized as being in the top 100 in the nation for medical excellence in major cardiac surgery and coronary bypass surgery by CareChex® Awards by BluCareChex Quantros, a release said. The 2025 quality awards from CareChex are based on their comprehensive quality scoring system that compares inpatient quality performance across general, acute and non-federal U.S. hospitals.
