THREE MEN CONNECTED TO A MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL FACE DECADES IN PRISON FOLLOWING A TWO WEEK TRIAL IN ALBUQUERQUE. EDWIN ORTIZ-PARRA AND EDER ORTIZ-PARRA WERE CONVICTED ON ALL COUNTS, INCLUDING FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN THE DEATHS OF TWO MEN.
CO-DEFENDANT RAFAEL GARCIA-PARRA WAS FOUND GUILTY OF SECOND DEGREE MURDER.
THE D-A’S OFFICE SAYS THE CASE REPRESENTED A DISTURBING INFLUX OF CARTEL DRUG VIOLENCE. THE THREE WERE ARRESTED A YEAR AGO FOLLOWING TWO SEPARATE SWAT STANDOFFS IN ALBUQUERQUE.
