Zetas member pleads not guilty to immigration charges

Luis Alberto “El Pelochas” Blanco Flores, 30, pleaded not guilty to the charge of illegal re-entry to the U.S. when he was arraigned in federal court on Wednesday morning.

Blanco, who authorities say is a former member of the Gulf Cartel and Zetas criminal organizations, entered the plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald Morgan.

During the hearing, Blanco smiled at his wife and had a jovial demeanor. In a previous hearing, Blanco had openly cried in court when he saw his wife, mother and sister.

The judge scheduled Blanco’s trial for November. If convicted of illegal re-entry, Blanco faces up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

Blanco was arrested in Brownsville on July 23 during a multi-agency operation involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, U.S. Border Patrol and Brownsville police.

According to court documents, Blanco was arrested on the charge of re-entering the country illegally after having been deported in 2003.

After Blanco concludes his pending legal matters with the U.S., he will be turned over to Mexican authorities, ICE officials stated.

According to a Mexican law enforcement official, Blanco was part of the Gulf Cartel and more recently was affiliated with the Zetas criminal organization and worked under Arturo “El Apache” Castillo.

Castillo was arrested a day after Blanco in the same interagency operation. He is charged with illegal entry and is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals facing extradition, ICE officials said.

Castillo is thought to have ordered a recent attack at the Matamoros Municipal Police Station which resulted in the deaths of seven local police officers, authorities have said.