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| Brother of Los Zetas suspects ordered to remain in Texas jail | Brother of Los Zetas suspects ordered to remain in Texas jail |
| (30 days later) | |
| The brother of two alleged leaders of notorious drugs cartel Los Zetas has been ordered to remain behind bars in Texas amid fears he may flee to Mexico over money-laundering charges. | The brother of two alleged leaders of notorious drugs cartel Los Zetas has been ordered to remain behind bars in Texas amid fears he may flee to Mexico over money-laundering charges. |
| During a detention hearing on Tuesday, Jose Trevino Morales pleaded not guilty to being part of an illegal scheme in which dirty money was channelled through the purchasing, training, breeding and racing of American quarter horses, a breed noted for their ability to sprint over short distances. | During a detention hearing on Tuesday, Jose Trevino Morales pleaded not guilty to being part of an illegal scheme in which dirty money was channelled through the purchasing, training, breeding and racing of American quarter horses, a breed noted for their ability to sprint over short distances. |
| His supporters claim Jose Trevino is the innocent sibling of two men – Miguel Angel and Oscar Omar Trevino Morales – who are the reputed heads of a murderous cartel responsible for scores of decapitations in recent months. | His supporters claim Jose Trevino is the innocent sibling of two men – Miguel Angel and Oscar Omar Trevino Morales – who are the reputed heads of a murderous cartel responsible for scores of decapitations in recent months. |
| An indictment unsealed last month described how the Trevino brothers set up a network in the US to quietly arrange the purchase of racing horses using drug money. The source of the funds was disguised in such a way that the Zetas' involvement would be masked. | An indictment unsealed last month described how the Trevino brothers set up a network in the US to quietly arrange the purchase of racing horses using drug money. The source of the funds was disguised in such a way that the Zetas' involvement would be masked. |
| Buyers would often pay in cash, or use fake names, which helped keep the owners and the money a secret, authorities alleged. | Buyers would often pay in cash, or use fake names, which helped keep the owners and the money a secret, authorities alleged. |
| Prosecutors claim that since 2008, the Morales brothers diverted millions of dollars of drugs money into the buying of horses in New Mexico, Oklahoma, California and Texas. | Prosecutors claim that since 2008, the Morales brothers diverted millions of dollars of drugs money into the buying of horses in New Mexico, Oklahoma, California and Texas. |
| The front organisation, Tremor Enterprises LLC, started small but worked in plain sight of others in the racing community, it has been claimed. | The front organisation, Tremor Enterprises LLC, started small but worked in plain sight of others in the racing community, it has been claimed. |
| Some of the horses bought were given names alluding to the real business of its owners, such as Number One Cartel and Coronita Cartel. Others proved to be profitable money-spinners for the alleged co-conspirators. | Some of the horses bought were given names alluding to the real business of its owners, such as Number One Cartel and Coronita Cartel. Others proved to be profitable money-spinners for the alleged co-conspirators. |
| A list of the horses being seized by federal agents includes Tempting Dash, 2009 winner of the Dash for Cash race at the Lone Star Park in Texas. | A list of the horses being seized by federal agents includes Tempting Dash, 2009 winner of the Dash for Cash race at the Lone Star Park in Texas. |
| Another, Mr Piloto, romped home in the $1m All American Futurity race on Labor Day in 2010. | Another, Mr Piloto, romped home in the $1m All American Futurity race on Labor Day in 2010. |
| In all, 15 people have been charged in relation to the alleged money-laundering scheme. | In all, 15 people have been charged in relation to the alleged money-laundering scheme. |
| An Internal Revenue Service investigator who testified on Tuesday said a federal informant – a drug distributor working for the Zetas – met Jose Trevino several times when he secretly crossed the border for meetings with his brothers. | An Internal Revenue Service investigator who testified on Tuesday said a federal informant – a drug distributor working for the Zetas – met Jose Trevino several times when he secretly crossed the border for meetings with his brothers. |
| The defendant's lawyer, David Finn, told the court that his client posed no risk of flight and was not a danger to others. | The defendant's lawyer, David Finn, told the court that his client posed no risk of flight and was not a danger to others. |
| But US magistrate judge Mark Lane said he thought there was a chance Jose Trevino might flee to Mexico if he was let out of jail. | But US magistrate judge Mark Lane said he thought there was a chance Jose Trevino might flee to Mexico if he was let out of jail. |
| "We're disappointed with the magistrate's decision," Finn said after the hearing. "The government agreed that he is not a danger to the community or to society." | "We're disappointed with the magistrate's decision," Finn said after the hearing. "The government agreed that he is not a danger to the community or to society." |
| Trevino's two brothers are also listed in the indictment but are thought to be in Mexico. The elder Trevino, Miguel Angel, is one of the US and Mexican governments' most wanted men. | Trevino's two brothers are also listed in the indictment but are thought to be in Mexico. The elder Trevino, Miguel Angel, is one of the US and Mexican governments' most wanted men. |
| In a drugs war between marked by extreme violence, Los Zetas is singled out for its brutality. The gang has a reputation of kidnapping, decapitation and the dismemberment of its rivals, and it is thought they were behind the dumping of 49 headless and handless bodies on a Mexican highway in May. | In a drugs war between marked by extreme violence, Los Zetas is singled out for its brutality. The gang has a reputation of kidnapping, decapitation and the dismemberment of its rivals, and it is thought they were behind the dumping of 49 headless and handless bodies on a Mexican highway in May. |
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