REVEALED: Gang leader who was linked to El Chapo’s cartel and is serving 224-year jail sentence for murder is one of 27 inmates who ESCAPED Mexican border town prison in fatal armed attack

• Ernesto ‘El Neto’ Piñón, leader of the notorious street gang Los Mexicles, is among the 27 prisoners who fled a Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, jail on Sunday
• Piñón was sentenced to 224 years after he was found guilty on kidnapping and murder charges in 2010. He has now fled the jail and is on the run
• Authorities said at least 25 members of Los Mexicles attacked the Cereso No. 3 state prison, killing 10 guards and seven inmates

The leader of a notorious street gang that has waged violence in Mexico was among the 27 prisoners who fled a prison on Sunday following an armed attack that left 10 guards and seven inmates dead.

Los Mexicles leader Ernesto ‘El Neto Piñón and the gang’s second-in-command César Vega fled the Cereso No. 3 state prison in Ciudad Juárez after the assault that left 19 prisoners with injuries.

At least 25 armed men arrived at the penitentiary at 7am and launched a military-style attack, instantly killing two guard at the entrance, where visitors were waiting to enter. 

The group later approached a second booth where they tied up and gunned down two more guards. They then entered the prison’s fifth cell block, where they rescued Piñón and Vega.

Los Mexicles leader Ernesto ‘El Neto Piñón is missing after he fled from a prison in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, on Sunday morning during an armed attack that left 10 guard and seven inmates dead. Piñón was sentenced to 224 years in 2010 after he was found guilty of kidnapping and murder charges

Inmates are rounded up and sat together outside the Cereso No. 3 state prison moments after security forces regained control of the penitentiary

Ciudad Juárez authorities arrested five members of the Los Mexicles gang following a high-speed pursuit. All five suspects were arrested on attempted murder, illegal firearm possession and criminal organization association charges.

The gang members fled in multiple vehicles through the same entrance they had entered as 25 inmates spilled on to the streets and disappeared.

Authorities reported at least six carjackings involving the fleeing prisoners.

Ciudad Juárez police killed two gang members during a street gun battle and arrested five gang members following a pursuit.

All five suspects were arrested on attempted murder, illegal firearm possession and criminal organization association charges. 

At least five of the inmates who were killed were all alleged members of Los Mexicles. 

Security forces entered the prison and restored order following a riot and recovered 10 firearms, drugs, liquor and other personal items that were kept by Piñón in his jail cell.

César Vega (pictured in September 2015), the Los Mexicles second-in-command, also fled from the Cereso No. 3 state prison

The other 25 prisoners have been identified as Carlos Altamirano, 25; Daniel de León, 37; and Alejandro Ayala, 29, who were all jailed on kidnapping charges.

Also missing are Adán Aguirre, 32; Francisco Juárez, 26; Edgar Ortiz, 27; David Ríos, 24; Joaquín Gutiérrez, 42; Félix Sánchez, 43; Iván Acosta, 39; and José Celis, 29, who were each sent to prison for murder.

Issac Rojas, 30; Brayan Celis, 24; Brian de Santiago, 19; Rodolfo González, 41; Christian Reyes, 27; Raúl López, 35; Mario Gutiérrez, 31; Jorge Meléndez, 28; Julio Perales, 32; and Juan Carrasco, 29, were all in prison for illegal possession of military firearms.

José Espinoza, 27; Ismael García, 30; Daniel Rodríguez, 22; and Javier Rodríguez, 25; were jailed on assault charges.

Luis Jurado, 21, was in prison for burying and exhuming human bodies.

It’s unknown if they all have ties to Los Mexicles. 

Ciudad Juárez police confiscated gear and rifles from five Los Mexicles gang members arrested during a high-speed chase 

Inmates are rounded up outside the Cereso No. 3 state prison in Ciudad Juárez following Sunday morning’s deadly attack that left 10 guards and seven prisoners dead

Piñón rose to power as the commander of Los Mexicles after Jesús ‘El Lalo’ Soto was transferred out of the prison in February 2020.

He joined the gang as an 18-year-old in 2007 and was involved in numerous criminal incidents, including kidnappings, in Ciudad Juárez, where the criminal faction acted as an the main enforcer for Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán’s old Sinaloa Cartel.

Piñón was found guilty of kidnapping and murder in 2010 and sentenced to 224 years in prison.

Authorities say he was also involved in ordering a wave of assaults throughout Ciudad Juárez on August 11 that left 11 people dead, 20 injured and multiple vehicles and business torched.

The rift was reportedly sparked by Los Mexicles’ split from the Sinaloa Cartel and its new alliance with Los Aztecas, the armed wing of the Juárez Cartel.

Vega served as Piñón’s main confidant at the Cereso No. 3 state prison, where they both shared a cell.

SUV seized from Los Mexicles gang members who participated in Sunday’s prison attack 

Security forces take measures after a prison riot broke out at the Cereso No. 3 state prison in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico

Guns and bullets are seen in front of the Cereso No. 3 state prison  that were recovered by the security forces

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Vega to Mexico in September 2015, almost four years after he was arrested at an El Paso, Texas, fried chicken restaurant where he was working as a cook.

Vega was detained December 27, 2011 at Church’s Chicken a year after he fled from Mexican authorities after the ambush of the prison van he was being transported in, according to ICE.

He and seven other Los Mexicles gang members abducted Natividad Torres at his Ciudad Juárez home on September 15, 2009.

The kidnappers requested around $47,000 for Torres’ release but ended up taking just $700, a television and a 2008 Toyota. Torres was shot four times on September 15 and released the following day. 

He died October 21 as a result of the gunshot wound and Vega and four other kidnappers were arrested the next month.

Vega was sentenced to 42 years for kidnapping and murder. 

Visitors stand in front of the Cereso No. 3 state prison entrance following Sunday morning’s assault at the jail that led to the escaped of 27 inmates

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