Five men have been indicted by the FBI following a six-month investigation into an assault on newly arrived inmates at a federal processing center in Laredo, Texas. The men – Ruben Salazar, Jose Regalado Solis, Javier Contreras, Ronaldo Otoniel Pena, and Jesus Guadalupe Ortega – have been charged with conspiracy, aiding and abetting, assault with an improvised stabbing tool, and assault with a dangerous weapon.
The incident took place at the Rio Grande Detention Center last August, where the five men allegedly welcomed eight members of the Paisas gang with punches, kicks, and stabbings. Four of the victims were hospitalized with stab wounds and liver lacerations, while the other four suffered bleeding and bruises.
The facility is operated by a private contractor and houses detainees for the U.S. Marshals Service. The complaint alleges that the assault occurred after an intake corrections officer closed the door behind the nine men and a member of the Paisas gang, Ortega, asked the new arrivals to identify their gang affiliation.
The assault escalated quickly, with inmates attacking the Paisas gang members with a stabbing tool, fists, and kicks. Some of the victims were stomped on after falling to the floor. It is unclear if the alleged assailants belonged to a rival gang.
A U.S. Magistrate judge in Laredo has called material witnesses to a hearing on May 20 and has set arraignment for the accused on May 23. If convicted, the men face penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
