Los Angeles Drug Kingpin' El Mago' with Ties to Sinaloa Cartel Shot Dead

On Thanksgiving morning, the notorious drug kingpin Eduardo Escobedo, widely known as "El Mago" and with ties to a powerful cartel, met a violent end in Willowbrook, Los Angeles County, according to Fox News.

The 39-year-old, whose moniker translates to "the magician," was one of two men fatally shot, as confirmed by local authorities responding to a call of shots fired in the area.

Both victims, including another convicted drug dealer, Guillermo De Los Angeles Jr., 47, lost their lives at the scene.

A third individual, unidentified, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was promptly taken to the hospital for treatment.

The incident occurred during what authorities suspect was a gathering or party held at the location from the previous night into the early morning hours, according to Lt. Omar Camacho, who stated that the motive for the killings remains undetermined.

El Mago

Eduardo "El Mago" Escobedo, once the top marijuana trafficker for a notorious cartel, served a sentence of four years and nine months in federal custody for conspiring to distribute over 10,000 kilos of marijuana and laundering drug proceeds. His release occurred in 2018, the New York Post noted.

Raised in East Los Angeles, Escobedo played a pivotal role as the primary local pot distributor for El Chapo son, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar.

Notably, he laundered the illicit proceeds by acquiring exotic cars and shipping them to Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa, the cartel's stronghold.

The drug lord's involvement in criminal activities also allegedly included orchestrating the murder of a rival trafficker in 2008, though he was never formally charged in connection with the incident.

However, his brother and another individual were convicted and are currently serving life sentences.

In a significant revelation in October 2013, wiretap evidence surfaced, indicating Escobedo's conversation with Guzman Salazar regarding the smuggling of more than five tons of marijuana through an underground tunnel beneath the US-Mexico border.

El Mago's Lifestyle

In the legitimate sphere, Drug kingpin Escobedo operated a food truck business in southern California, notably Besthibachi, which faced a name change due to an infringement lawsuit from Benihana, the Daily Mail noted.

The drug lord often showcased his culinary venture on Instagram, occasionally flaunting a luxurious lifestyle that included driving a Rolls Royce.

Escobedo's social media presence painted a picture of a man connected to celebrities, with photos featuring him alongside boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, Oscar-winner Al Pacino, and music star Luis Coronel.

Notably, a caption on a picture with Pacino referenced the iconic Scarface character Tony Montana, depicting Escobedo's affinity for the underworld persona.

"Say hello to my littler friend," the caption said.

The news of El Mago's demise in Los Angeles resonated on social media, with Latin Music star Roberto Tapia expressing disbelief and sorrow.

Tapia shared videos and images capturing moments of camaraderie with Escobedo, emphasizing the significant loss of a "great friend."

"I'm going to miss you a lot, my old man, what a great friend you were," he wrote.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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