Texas executes gang hit man for killing woman over drug tax

[webfact]

Texas executes gang hit man for killing woman over drug tax
By MICHAEL GRACZYK

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — A Mexican Mafia hit man convicted of beating and strangling a San Antonio woman because she didn't pay the gang's 10 percent tax on her illegal drug sales was executed Wednesday evening.

The injection of Manuel Vasquez with a lethal dose of pentobarbital leaves Texas with enough of the powerful sedative to carry out only one more execution. Vasquez was the fourth Texas inmate put to death this year, and at least six are scheduled for execution in the coming weeks.

Texas prison officials, like those in other death penalty states, have found it increasingly difficult to find suppliers to provide drugs intended for capital punishment use.

Vasquez, 46, was pronounced dead at 6:32 p.m. CDT, 17 minutes after the drug began being administered.

Vasquez, in a final statement, told his family and friends he loved them and thanked "the Lord for his kind mercy, faithfulness and unconditional love."

"In Jesus' name I pray," he said, then told the warden: "I'm ready."

He took three deep breaths and then began snoring loudly. The snores became progressively quiet, and all movement stopped within less than a minute.

The sister of his victim was among witnesses watching through a window. He never looked at her.

His own sister and a female friend cried as they watched through a window in an adjacent room.

Vasquez's lawyers filed no late appeals to delay his execution for the 1998 slaying of 51-year-old Juanita Ybarra.

Testimony at Vasquez's capital murder trial showed Ybarra had ignored the gang's "dime" tax on street drug sales in San Antonio, so Vasquez and two partners were ordered that she "had to go down."

"Most drug dealers do know," said Mary Green, an assistant Bexar County district attorney who prosecuted Vasquez. "I'm sure she was told if you're selling, you've got to pay the tax."

"I guess she didn't take it seriously."

Fueled by a night of drinking and drugs, the men put on bandannas to cover their faces and socks on their hands to prevent fingerprints and barged into a room at a run-down San Antonio motel where Ybarra was staying with her boyfriend, Moses Bazan.

Bazan was beaten and stabbed but survived to identify one of the attackers, leading to the arrest of all three. He also said he saw Vasquez ask one of his companions for a phone cord and saw Vasquez strangling Ybarra.

One of the men, Johnny Joe Cruz, testified against Vasquez under a plea deal that carried a seven-year prison term. The third man charged, Oligario Lujan, is serving a 35-year sentence.

Court records show the three were carrying out orders from Mexican Mafia boss Rene Munoz, who spent years on the Texas Department of Public Safety's 10 Most Wanted List until his arrest in 2012.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-03-12

[joesanunu]

A shame he went so peacefully since the victim was stabbed and beaten.

Not fair.

[Credo]

Since they are running out of pentobarbital, perhaps they could use some of the ill gotten drugs for further executions?

[NeverSure]

Rifle rounds cost about two for a dollar and then you have good brass cases to reload. (The morally conscious recycle.)

Edited March 12, 2015 by NeverSure

[Seastallion]

Rifle rounds cost about two for a dollar and then you have good brass cases to reload. (The morally conscious recycle.)

Nah...Credo's idea has merit. I imagine death from a calculated overdose would not be pleasant.

Besides, there's poetic justice in it.

AND the drugs don't get incinerated....that's a nod to being green

[rotary]

Another happy day in history as they disposed of the trash

[reptile91602]

He sounded like such a nice christian! He prays to the lord and savior. Don't know why jesus didn't come down and help the poor soul.

[samran]

He sounded like such a nice christian! He prays to the lord and savior. Don't know why jesus didn't come down and help the poor soul.

The great thing about being catholic. Confess your sins, two Hail Mary's and a Glory Be later, and the slate is wiped clean.

[Chris Lawrence]

Death, 35 years and 7 years.

7 years sounds like a fair sentence to fulfil necessary bloodletting of the state.

The killing was wrong. But three people go to kill one person and beat up another. One is executed? and one gets seven years?