José Adrián Enríquez, better known by his alias “El Rayder,” faced indictment on September 7. The charges relate to his alleged involvement in the tragic 2019 massacre of the LeBarón family in Bavispe, Sonora.
El Rayder’s alleged crimes – aggravated homicide, attempted aggravated homicide, and damages – were outlined in an official statement from the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic (FGR). “As a result of the intelligence work carried out by elements of the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA), José Adrián “E” was located in Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua,” the FGR’s press release disclosed, noting that the Federal Ministerial Police (PFM) and the Criminal Investigation Agency (AIC) acted on this intelligence.
Adrián LeBarón publicized El Rayder’s arrest on August 30 on his X account, a successor platform to Twitter. LeBarón shared his relief, stating, “They arrested another alleged criminal involved, his namesake is José Adrián Enríquez, alias El Rayder, they caught him in Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua and I feel good because there is one less criminal on the streets.”
After the arrest, the Attorney General’s Office announced that sufficient evidence had been gathered, allowing a judge to order El Rayder’s prosecution. The suspect now awaits trial in the Federal Center for Social Rehabilitation (Cefereso) number 1 Almoloya de Juarez, commonly called El Altiplano.
El Rayder allegedly operated under Candelario “N,” or “Coma Santos,” a notable figure arrested in 2021. Santos, a lieutenant of the La Linea group, is also suspected of involvement in the 2019 attack on the LeBarón family.
Another suspect apprehended
Coinciding with El Rayder’s arrest, US authorities reported the detention of Ivan Gustavo Hernandez, also known as “El Paquiao.” The US Marshals Service (USMS) executed his capture, noting a previous arrest when he attempted an illegal border crossing.
Adrián LeBarón expressed sorrow regarding El Paquiao’s detention, remarking on his youth. “He is 24 years old; he had hundreds of options ahead of him, but something is so broken in our country that young people become cannon fodder,” he opined.
The LeBarón family tragedy
The harrowing event that spurred these arrests transpired on November 4, 2019. In Bavispe’s La Mora community, suspected La Línea members allegedly targeted three vehicles carrying three women and 14 minors.
The resulting attack took nine lives: Rhonita Maria Miller (30); Christina Marie Langford Johnson (29); Dawna Ray Langford (43); and children Howard Jacob (12), Trevor Harvey (11), Krystal Bellaine (10), Rogan (2), Titus Alvin and Tiana Gricel, both tragically just 8 months old. Seven other minors suffered injuries.
Identified as the armed wing of the Juarez Cartel, La Línea is a notorious criminal faction in the country’s north.