Slaying gives glimpse of gang’s inner workings
Mexican Mafia orders execution of crooked cop
Both sides of Julian Pesina’s double life were closing in on his secrets.
Pesina was a police officer in Balcones Heights, a small city of 3,000 people near San Antonio, Tex. But he also claimed allegiance to the Mexican Mafia, a notorious gang known for extortion and precision executions.
Pesina sold drugs for the gang and paid a weekly tax, or “dime,” for his tattoo parlour, according to court documents.
In 2014, federal investigators were probing Pesina’s ties to the ruthless, violent gang and getting close to making an arrest. But Texas Mexican Mafia members, who learned of his police job from Facebook, sentenced him to death instead.
Jerry “Spooks” Idrogo was ordered to execute him.
On May 4, 2014, Idrogo called Pesina, saying he was in a hurry and wanted to pick up the “dime” outside Pesina’s tattoo parlour.
When Pesina walked up to the car to pay Idrogo, two other gang members rushed around the building, wearing masks.
Pesina was shot and killed in the street — though the gunmen waited until Pesina had paid his 10 per cent tax before opening fire, according to federal investigators.
Video of Pesina’s execution was captured on a polemounted camera FBI agents had set up to watch his business and build their case, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
On Friday, Idrogo pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to participate in a “Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization.”
As part of the plea, Idrogo admitted he was responsible for Pesina’s slaying and the death of another man, Texas Mexican Mafia member Billy Padilla.
Tony Rafael, the pen name of the author of a book about the Mexican Mafia, says the group could be “the most dangerous gang in America.”
He said it’s not uncommon to find civil servants among the mafia’s ranks. One of the gang’s strengths, he said, is its ability to coerce people into working for it.
“They’re very, very good at manipulating people,” Rafael said.
“They’ve corrupted social workers to do their bidding for them, and occasionally police officers, too. They’ll find a weak spot. They’ll befriend you, try to figure out what makes you tick. If you’re short of cash, they’ll get you cash. If it’s drugs, they’ll get you drugs. If it’s women, they’ ll get you that, too. They’re excellent, excellent manipulators.”