Ecuador: 5 Suspects to Fernando Villavicencio Murder Sentenced to up to 34 Years

In a significant verdict, an Ecuador court has handed down prison sentences ranging from 12 to 34 years to five individuals convicted of the murder of journalist and former legislator Fernando Villavicencio.

Villavicencio was tragically shot dead while leaving a campaign rally in August 2023, a crime that shook Ecuador amid rising violence, according to Reuters.

The ruling, pronounced by Judge Milton Maroto, allows for appeals from both the prosecution and defense.

The trial, commencing in late June, concluded with Carlos Edwin Angulo Lara, known as 'El Invisible,' and Laura Dayanara Castillo receiving the highest penalties of 34 years and eight months each.

They were implicated in orchestrating and managing the logistics of the assassination from within the Los Lobos crime gang.

Erick Ramirez, Victor Flores, and Alexandra Chimbo, accomplices in tracking Villavicencio's movements, were sentenced to 12 years each for their roles in aiding the hit squad.

Background and Investigations

Fernando Villavicencio, known for his investigative journalism exposing corruption and criminal ties in Ecuador, had been a vocal critic of organized crime's influence on politics.

He had received numerous threats prior to his assassination, underscoring the dangers faced by whistleblowers in the region.

On August 9, assailants ambushed Villavicencio outside a school in Quito, where he was campaigning, despite receiving death threats and security warnings, BBC reports.

Prosecutors detailed during the trial that one of the attackers died in a police confrontation at the scene.

Following the murder, six Colombian nationals connected to the crime were arrested but later found murdered in prison under pre-trial detention, adding complexity to the investigation.

Ongoing Investigations and Community Response

Despite the convictions, authorities continue to investigate who contracted Los Lobos to carry out the hit, aiming to unravel the full scope of the conspiracy.

Villavicencio's widow, Veronica Sarauz, while welcoming the court's decision, emphasized the ongoing quest for justice and closure, RTE noted.

Ecuador, traditionally stable in Latin America, has seen a surge in crime attributed in part to the infiltration of Colombian and Mexican drug cartels into local gangs.

Los Lobos, associated with the powerful Jalisco New Generation cartel, exemplifies these criminal ties, highlighting broader regional challenges in combating organized crime.

Ecuadorian authorities have investigated the high-profile assassination and have arrested several suspects.

Some have been killed, leaving five to face trial. Investigators found messages sent to one gunman from an inmate at Latacunga jail, facilitated by a woman providing logistical support.

This led to the Los Lobos gang, known for conflicts with the victim, Villavicencio. The remaining suspects are believed to be their associates.

Los Lobos, with 8,000 members, is a major Ecuador gang linked to Mexico's powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Shortly after Fernando Villavicencio's assassination and before the suspects were arrested and killed, the US aided the Ecuadorian government in its efforts to apprehend those responsible.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

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