San Antonio Texas Syndicate Leader Sentenced To Federal Prison On Racketeering Charge

In San Antonio this morning, Texas Syndicate (TS) leader Rolando “Black Rabbit” Muniz, age 31, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to violate the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) statute announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman.

On November 8, 2013, Muniz pleaded guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge.  By pleading guilty, Muniz admitted that beginning in January 2008 until the present, he and others conspired to engage in a pattern of organized criminal conduct including four murders, two attempted murders, conspiracy to commit murder, drug trafficking and other crimes in furtherance of the goals and the mission of the Texas Syndicate.

Specifically, Muniz admitted to distributing various amounts of cocaine and heroin throughout San Antonio as well as participating in the planning of the attempted murder of fellow gang member and co-defendant Andrew Vidaurri on July 2, 2011.  During that attempt, Andrew Vidaurri’s sister-in-law, Priscilla Ann Vidaurri, was killed in the crossfire by TS gunmen.  Andrew Vidaurri is currently serving a four-year prison term after pleading guilty to the RICO conspiracy charge.

Muniz is the last of 20 TS members and associates convicted and sentenced for their roles in this criminal enterprise.  The other defendants received sentences ranging up to 37 years in federal prison.

“This investigation targeted gang members who were attempting to establish a larger presence in San Antonio.  After 20 convictions and federal prison sentences handed down to the Texas Syndicate leadership and it’s most violent members, this prosecution has reached a successful conclusion,” stated U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman.

This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and it’s Task Force; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; United States Marshals Service; Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, and the San Antonio Police Department. The DEA Task Force is comprised of members of the Comal County Sheriff’s Office, Balcones Heights Police Department, Kendall County Sheriff’s Office, New Braunfels Police Department, Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office, Terrell Hills Police Department, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Inspector General; and the Texas National Guard.  Assistant United States Attorneys Joey Contreras and Karen Norris prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.