Tijuana Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Cutting Men's Throats

Roberto Ochoa faces life imprisonment or death at his June sentencing

 A Tijuana man admitted Friday to slashing the throats of his fellow drug traffickers whom he believed had stolen profits, according to U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy.

Roberto Ochoa, 35, pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to two counts of intentional killing while working with a San Diego-based drug trafficking conspiracy.

On Oct. 19, 2012, Ochoa and others took Hector Gonzalez and Rodolfo Robles to a home in San Jacinto to interrogate them about stealing methamphetamines and cocaine proceeds, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency.

The DEA investigation revealed that Ochoa and another person used knives to slit Gonzalez’s and Robles’ throats, killing them.

Their bodies were discovered on Nov. 9, 2012 by Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies doing a welfare check at that address.

Ochoa was among dozens of accused drug traffickers and money launderers indicted in Nov. 2011.

Including Ochoa, eight have pleaded guilty, seven have been sentenced, two are fugitives and the other cases are pending, Duffy said.

Ochoa will face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or death at his sentencing on June 6.

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