Case proceeds against alleged Los Reyes cartel leader
El Diario de Chihuahua reports that an August 22 ruling allowed weapons and drug charges against Alfonso Fernández Magallón to proceed after a psychiatric assessment. He remains in pretrial detention at Altiplano.
A federal judge allowed weapons and drug charges against Alfonso Fernández Magallón, known as “Poncho La Quiringua,” to proceed after a psychiatric assessment found him fit to participate in a hearing, according to El Diario de Chihuahua, which cited judicial records.
The report says the ruling was issued on August 22, following his August 1 arrest in Michoacán. Federal authorities identify him as the alleged leader of the Cártel de Los Reyes. His capture triggered road blockades and vehicle fires in Los Reyes and Peribán, the newspaper reported.
Judge Mario Elizondo Martínez, of the federal criminal justice center in Almoloya de Juárez, State of Mexico, authorized proceedings on charges of carrying a firearm reserved for military use, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell and simple possession of cocaine. He maintained mandatory pretrial detention at the Altiplano prison and set November 22 as the deadline for the additional investigation.
Judicial documents cited in the article say soldiers detained Fernández Magallón in Los Reyes Salgado alongside Martín Silva Ozornio and Federico Plascencia Mendoza. Authorities allege they found a loaded .38 Super Colt pistol, a magazine, 178.6 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride and 0.1 grams of cocaine on Fernández Magallón. Soldiers also reported seizing firearms from the other two men.
The court initially suspended the decision on whether to authorize proceedings against Fernández Magallón because an expert assessment found that a psychotic episode prevented him from participating effectively. His two co-defendants were placed under proceedings on August 9. A further psychiatric assessment on August 18 found him clinically able to attend, and the judge lifted the suspension four days later.
The newspaper describes the Cártel de Los Reyes as part of Cárteles Unidos de Michoacán, alongside Los Viagras, the Cártel de Tepalcatepec and Blancos de Troya. It identifies extortion of Michoacán avocado producers as a lucrative activity attributed to the group, providing context for the alleged leader’s regional influence.
Original report: El Diario de Chihuahua.