In a federal courtroom in Laredo, a 40-year-old Mexican citizen, Noe Gonzalez-Martinez, also known as Tocayo, has been convicted on multiple charges by a federal jury. U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced the verdict, stating that Gonzalez-Martinez was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, murder-for-hire conspiracy, murder for hire, conspiracy to kidnap, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking related crime, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering.

The jury, after deliberating for approximately one hour, reached a unanimous decision on all charges following a three-day trial. The prosecution presented evidence that between September 7, 2021, and September 13, 2021, Gonzalez-Martinez, identified as a leader and manager of the Cartel Del Noreste (CDN), and several other CDN members traveled from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, into Laredo.

During this period, Gonzalez-Martinez allegedly solicited the help of other CDN affiliates to plan and coordinate the kidnapping and murder of an individual believed to have stolen from the cartel. The investigation revealed that Gonzalez-Martinez communicated via cellphone with co-conspirators to plan the recovery of drugs and proceeds from the intended victim. He also provided co-conspirators with an address where they could retrieve firearms and a vehicle to carry out the murder.

On September 13, 2021, co-conspirators took possession of an automobile and firearms, including a Colt Government Model caliber .45 pistol, Trooper MKIII caliber .357 magnum revolver, Bushmaster caliber .223-5.56 mm rifle, and a Colt AR-15 A2 caliber .223, to execute the murder. Law enforcement successfully arrested three "sicarios" (hitmen) in an undercover operation.

Testimonies from various law enforcement agencies detailed the investigation into the CDN's use of cellphones, the firearms obtained by the cartel, and the defendants' border crossing. A co-conspirator, who admitted to being a sicario, provided insider knowledge of the CDN and its operations.

Co-conspirators Juan Antonio Martinez-Padilla, Gregorio Gonzalez-Barragan, and Rodolfo Reyna-Zapata, all from Nuevo Laredo, had previously pleaded guilty to the kidnapping conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos presided over the trial and scheduled Gonzalez-Martinez's sentencing for March 25, 2024. If sentenced to the maximum, Gonzalez-Martinez faces life in federal prison and will remain in custody until the hearing.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation.