Two Barrio Azteca gang members, associate face 20 years

Officials said Yolanda “Yoli” Barba Chavira, 42, was a gang associate who sent drug “street tax” profits to gang members in prison

March 02, 2012 09:43 AM

By Daniel Borunda
El Paso Times

EL PASO, Texas — Two Barrio Azteca gang members and an associate have pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy or money laundering charges in U.S. District Court in El Paso, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Thursday.

Officials said Yolanda “Yoli” Barba Chavira, 42, was a gang associate who sent drug “street tax” profits to gang members in prison. She pleaded guilty Thursday to money laundering and faces up to 20 years in prison when she is sentenced in May.

During a plea hearing, Chavira said she believed the gang was laundering more than $120,000 in extortion fees, officials said. They did not say how long it took to get the fees.

Gang members Adam “Bad Boy” Garcia, 34, and Carlos “Bandit” Perez, 38, face 20 years in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to racketeering conspiracy.

Last week in a related case, gang member Jorge “Payaso” Diaz was sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. And Santiago “Sonny” Lucero was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined $1,000, officials said.

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