Mexico: Casino Royale attacker found guilty and given a 135-year sentence
Baltasar Sauceda Estrada was convicted of planning the 2011 attack in Monterrey that left 52 people dead.
Key Points
- The sentence was issued by a federal court after more than a decade of investigations
- Five other individuals linked to the attack received 15-year sentences and monetary fines
- The attack involved setting the casino on fire and blocking exits, trapping victims inside
Baltasar Sauceda Estrada, also known as “El Mataperros” and the alleged mastermind behind the 2011 Casino Royale attack in Monterrey, Mexico, has been sentenced to 135 years in prison.
The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) confirmed the ruling and stated that, as a member of the Cártel de Los Zetas, he must also pay a fine of over MX 1.2m ($68,000) for his involvement in organized crime and kidnapping.
The verdict was handed down by the Second Federal Criminal Court in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, which found Estrada guilty of drug-related offenses and the illegal deprivation of liberty through kidnapping, involving three victims.
According to the FGR, five additional individuals connected to the attack were also sentenced. Each received a 15-year prison term and a fine of more than MX 370,000. All were identified as members of the same criminal group.
The defendants were arrested between 2011 and 2012 under federal warrants. Some were already serving time for other offenses at the time of prosecution.
Good to know: A day before, on August 24, 2011, a betting shop owned by Grupo Caliente in nearby Saltillo was also attacked, with reports of explosions and gunfire
The Casino Royale attack left 52 people dead after an armed group poured gasoline inside the building, set it on fire, and blocked the exits, trapping customers and employees inside.
In March 2021, the structure that once housed Casino Royale was demolished. In August 2024, a memorial was inaugurated to honor the victims.
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Tags/Keywords
- Casino,
- Land Based,
- LatAm,
- Legal,
- Mexico
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