Borderland Beat~Suspect Arrested in David Hartley Murder on Falcon Lake

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Falcon Lake Texas- Zetas regional leader arrested, named in the David Hartley Murder

Lucio R. Borderland Beat Material from BB archives and Laredo Morning Times

Brothers Juan Pedro and José Manuel Zaldívar Farías, also known as "El 27" and "El 31", are suspects in the murder of American (Reynosa resident) David Hartley on Falcon Lake. 

They are also named in  the killing of  the lead investigator of the PME group in Miguel Alemán, Tamaulipas, Rolando Flores, who was allegedly decapitated and his head sent in a briefcase to a military base in Mexico. (Mexico would not confirm this only that he was assassinated)

At the time of the Harley murder rumors began tagging a “Zetitas” gang (teens to early twenties) were responsible.  Subsequently, a Mexican investigator began sharing information with Texas channel 5 ABC news, that identified the Saldivar Farias brothers as leaders of the gang and lead suspects of the murder.

From Channel 5 who was working with the investigator accessing information on the Falcon Lake Murder:

“the victim was identified  as homicide investigator Rolando Armando Flores Villegas, (Commander of state investigators in Ciudad Miguel Aleman).  This is the same investigator who delivered documents to a local ABC channel 5 Laredo Texas station crew over the weekend in Reynosa. He also provided our crew with information about two Mexican brothers, Zeta Cartel members, suspected of involvement in the alleged murder of David Hartley.

[Flores]Villegas said Juan Pedro and Jose Manuel Saldivar Farias are suspected members of the Zeta drug cartel, wanted criminals, and members of a pirate gang  (Zetitas) that has been terrorizing boaters on Falcon Lake and residents of a nearby town.”

Tamaulipas state police commander confirmed information with respect to the brothers: “Commander Juan Carlos Ballesteros reported that research conducted in coordination between the sheriff of Zapata, Texas, Sigifredo González and the group leader of the Ministerial Police Miguel German, Tamaulipas, Juan Carlos Ballesteros, those responsible (for Hartley's murder) were already identified as Juan Pedro Saldivar Farias alias "The 27 " (below left) and José Manuel Saldívar Farias alias" El 31 ".

Today from LMT:

A commander for the Zetas drug cartel was arrested last week while traveling from Mexico to the U.S. in a boat on Falcon Lake, federal authorities announced Wednesday.

 Jose Manuel Saldivar-Farias, also known as “Z-31” or “El Borrado,” was charged with conspiracy to possess marijuana allegations after illegally entering the U.S.

Saldivar-Farias, 27, is alleged to be a regional commander for the Zetas. Initially arrested on immigration charges related to his illegal presence in the U.S., a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday charges him and Osiel Hernandez-Martinez, 26, with conspiracy to possess more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. Salidvar-Farias is also charged with giving false statements to government agents.

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