THE BORDER REPORT

The United States released a listing today of Sonoran and Sinaloan mining firms tied back to Don Rigo, the godfather of the Sinaloan money-launderers, Rigoberto Gaxiola Medina. I'm wondering what U.S. mining companies are vinculated with these firms. Gaxiola is a fascinating study in the shadowy world of laundering money. He owned several car dealerships  and real estate agencies in Tucson and Hermosillo, Sonora, and was the Sonora regional accountant for Amado Carrillo Fuentes in the 1990s. For a full breakdown of his organization, download the pdf: Gaxiola Medina Family and Businesses One list of 16 bank accounts he held provided by one of my compas in a Mexican law enforcement agency show these kinds of numbers: $122,600,128 $191,460,000 $39,517,177 $17,098,496 All under his and his wife's names, Maria del Rosario García Durán. It's testimony to Gaxiola's legacy that nobody could figure out how much money he actually had. About 11 years ago, the Clinton Administration was accusing the Mexicans of lifting some $170 million when it claimed the Federal Attorney General's Office had seized $183 million but only reported $16.7 million. It's never really been resolved, and frankly, I'm of the opinion that not even Don Rigo knows how much money he has sitting around at any given time. Gaxiola was designated a kingpin by the United States a few years ago and he was sentenced in Mexico to 11 years in prison for some drug tunnel operations throughout Sonora. But this is where things are just going to get interesting. The Treasury Department announced a list of businesses today they say are tied back to Gaxiola family, what it calls "specially designated narcotics traffickers." The designation means it is illegal for U.S. citizens to engage in business transactions with these companies. The list includes auto dealers and furniture stores, normal money laundering operations, fine. But Treasury's list also includes several mining companies based in Sonora and Sinaloa. The question becomes, which of these businesses are tied back to Grupo Mexico, the Mexico City mining company that made a $2.7 billion bid on Asarco, the U.S.'s third-largest copper producer? I have a few answers from sources at Justice Department, but nothing I can definitively say right now. Here's the list of businesses provided by Treasury. Some of these are old family names in Sonora. I can guarantee you there are going to be some people squirming in Hermosillo. Now I want to know if anyone in Tucson also needs to be feeling a bit ... uncomfortable ,, right now. My guess is, yes.

-- Michel Marizco

LIST OF BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE IN SONORA AND SINALOA TIED BACK TO THE GAXIOLA FAMILY: AGUIRRE CARDONA, Armando, Mexico; DOB 28 Oct 1955; POB Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; C.U.R.P. AUCA551028HNLGRR03 (Mexico); R.F.C. AUCA551028 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] ARCE BORBOA, Ana Cristina, c/o COPA DE PLATA S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; c/o MINERA LA CASTELLANA Y ANEXAS S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; c/o MINERA RIO PRESIDIO S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; c/o COMPANIA MINERA DEL RIO CIANURY S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; Calle Artesanos No. 255, Colonia Burocrata, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; Prof. Raul Franco Barreda 97, Fracc. Arboles, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; DOB 22 May 1961; POB Navolato, Sinaloa, Mexico; alt. POB Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; C.U.R.P. AEBA610522MSLRRN00 (Mexico); alt. C.U.R.P. AEBA610522MSLRRN18 (Mexico); R.F.C. AEBA610522 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] BALDENEGRO BASTIDAS, Manuel Dario, c/o AGRICOLA GAXIOLA S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; DOB 11 Jan 1963; POB Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; alt. POB Distrito Federal, Mexico, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; C.U.R.P. BABM630111HSLLSN16 (Mexico); alt. C.U.R.P. BABM630111HSLLSN08 (Mexico); Passport 260000406 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] DUARTE MUNOZ, Roque (a.k.a. CAMPOS ARREDONDO, Humberto), c/o COMPANIA MINERA DEL RIO CIANURY S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; DOB 09 Dec 1960; POB Mexico (individual) [SDNTK] FITCH PARENTE, Jose Elmer, c/o COMPANIA MINERA DEL RIO CIANURY S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; c/o MINERA RIO PRESIDIO S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; c/o MINERA LA CASTELLANA Y ANEXAS S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; Francisco I. Madero Numero 145 al Oriente, Colonia Centro, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; DOB 27 Jan 1965; POB Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; C.U.R.P. FIPE650127HSLTRL05 (Mexico); R.F.C. FIPJ650127 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] FITCH PARENTE, Pablo Antonio, c/o COMPANIA MINERA DEL RIO CIANURY S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; Boulevard Francisco I. Madero Numero 145 al Oriente, Colonia Centro, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; DOB 24 Mar 1966; POB Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; C.U.R.P. FIPP660324HSLTRB07 (Mexico); R.F.C. FIPP660324 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] FITCH TOVAR, Jose Manuel, c/o COMPANIA MINERA DEL RIO CIANURY S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; c/o MINERA LA CASTELLANA Y ANEXAS S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; c/o MINERA RIO PRESIDIO S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; c/o COPA DE PLATA S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; Rio de la Plata, numero 28, Campo Bello de Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico; DOB 28 Dec 1936; POB Panuco, Concordia, Sinaloa, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; R.F.C. FITM361228 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] FONTES MORENO, Eleazar, c/o AGRICOLA GAXIOLA S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o TEMPLE DEL PITIC S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Avenida Serdan No. 122 Poniente, Altos 10, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Ave. Real 73, Hermosillo, Sonora 83200, Mexico; DOB 23 Jul 1947; POB Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; C.U.R.P. FOME470723HSRNRL05 (Mexico); Passport 260057687 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] GARCIA DURAN, Maria Del Rosario, Calle de Anza Numero 210, Colonia Pitic, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Rafael Campoy #307, Colonia Pitic, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Av. Uvalama 15, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Alamos 40, Colonia Modelo, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Ave Eduardo Villa 333, Col Oliv., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Calle Uvalama 19 Esq., Blvd Sabinos, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Uvalama 15 y Sabinos, Col Sabin, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o GRUPO INDUSTRIAL GAXIOLA HERMANOS S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o INMOBILIARIA GAXIOLA HERMANOS S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o MINERA LA CASTELLANA Y ANEXAS S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; c/o MINERA RIO PRESIDIO S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; c/o MOLDURAS DEL NOROESTE S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o DISTRIBUIDORA DE HERMOSILLO GAXIOLA HERMANOS S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o DISTRIBUIDORA GRAN AUTO S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o TEMPLE DEL PITIC S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o FLETES Y TRANSPORTES GAXGAR S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o COMPANIA MINERA DEL RIO CIANURY S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; c/o COPA DE PLATA S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; Prop. Priv y Bldg G. Escoboza, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Preferico Poniente, Calle Simon Bleyy Manuel I. Loaiza, Colonia Olivaries, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Calle Zaragoza No. 166-2, al Poniente de la Col. Centro, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; Calle Clavel No. 1406, Esquina con Calle Rosa, Colonia Margarita, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; DOB 12 Sep 1953; POB Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; R.F.C. GADR530912 (Mexico); alt. R.F.C. GADR521211 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] GAXIOLA GARCIA, Carlos Alberto, c/o INMUEBLES SIERRA VISTA S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o DISTRIBUIDORA GRAN AUTO S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Calle Angel Garcia Aburto No. 62, Col. Loma Linda, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Calles Olivares y Eduardo W. Villa, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Avenida Raul Campoy Numero 307, Colonia Pitic, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; DOB 02 Mar 1978; POB Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; C.U.R.P. GAGC780302HSRXRR00 (Mexico); R.F.C. GAGC780302H75 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] GAXIOLA GARCIA, Maria Elena, c/o INMOBILIARIA GAXIOLA HERMANOS S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o DISTRIBUIDORA GRAN AUTO S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Calle Rafael Campoy No. 305, Col. Pitic, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Rafael Campoy Num 307, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Priv. Bugambilia 55, Colonia Bugambilia, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; DOB 18 Aug 1975; POB Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; alt. POB Arizpe, Sonora, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; C.U.R.P. GAGE750818MSLXRL11 (Mexico); alt. C.U.R.P. GAGE750818MSLXRL03 (Mexico); R.F.C. GAGE750818L66 (Mexico); alt. R.F.C. GAGE350904 (Mexico); alt. R.F.C. GAGE680511 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] GAXIOLA GARCIA, Rigoberto, c/o INMOBILIARIA GAXIOLA HERMANOS S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o AGRICOLA GAXIOLA S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o COPA DE PLATA S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; c/o MINERA LA CASTELLANA Y ANEXAS S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; c/o MINERA RIO PRESIDIO S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; c/o TEMPLE DEL PITIC S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o DISTRIBUIDORA GRAN AUTO S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o GRUPO INDUSTRIAL GAXIOLA HERMANOS S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o INMUEBLES SIERRA VISTA S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o MOLDURAS DEL NOROESTE S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o DISTRIBUIDORA DE HERMOSILLO GAXIOLA HERMANOS S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o FLETES Y TRANSPORTES GAXGAR S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Calles Olivares y Eduardo W. Villa, Colonia Olivares, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Alamos No. 42, Colonia Modelo, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Avenida de Anza #210, Colonia Pitic, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Calle Clavel No. 1406, Esquina con Calle Rosa, Colonia Margarita, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; Rafael Campoy #307, Pitic, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Calle de Anza Numero 210, Colonia Pitic, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Uvalama No. 19, Col Los Sabinos, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Avenida Adolfo de la Huerta 401, Colonia Pitic, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Ave Colonizadores 830, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; DOB 25 Jan 1973; alt. DOB 26 Jan 1973; POB CULIACAN, SINALOA, MEXICO; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; C.U.R.P. GAGR730125HSLXRG08 (Mexico); R.F.C. GAGR730125DC9 (Mexico); alt. R.F.C. GACR730125 (Mexico); alt. R.F.C. GAGP730125 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] GUZMAN ENRIQUEZ, Juan Luis, Mexico; DOB 24 Jun 1950; POB La Huacana, Michoacan De Ocampo, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; C.U.R.P. GUEJ500624HDFZNN06 (Mexico); R.F.C. GUEJ500624 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] LUCERO DE MARTINEZ, Sandra (a.k.a. LUCERO VALENZUELA, Sandra; a.k.a. VALENCIA ZAZUETA, Sandra; a.k.a. VALENZUELA, Sandra), Mexico; DOB 29 Oct 1969; POB Nogales, Sonora, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; C.U.R.P. VAZS691029MSRLZN04 (Mexico); alt. C.U.R.P. VAZS691029HSRLZN04 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] QUINTERO ARCE, Juan Francisco (a.k.a. "EL CHATO"), Mexico; DOB 26 Aug 1959; POB Mocorito, Sinaloa, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; C.U.R.P. QUAJ590826HSLNRN02 (Mexico); R.F.C. QUAJ590826P41 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] VALENCIA JAIME, Rafael Angel, c/o AGRICOLA GAXIOLA S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o TEMPLE DEL PITIC S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Ave Articulo 123 109, Hermosillo, Sonora 83287, Mexico; DOB 22 Jan 1968; POB Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; C.U.R.P. VAJR680122HSRLMF08 (Mexico); Passport 02260105052 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] VEGA SANCHEZ, Jose Raul, c/o AGRICOLA GAXIOLA S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o INMUEBLES SIERRA VISTA S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; c/o TEMPLE DEL PITIC S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; DOB 19 Oct 1956; POB Cananea, Sonora, Mexico; citizen Mexico; nationality Mexico; C.U.R.P. VESR561019HSRGNL09 (Mexico); alt. C.U.R.P. VEXR561019HSRGXL05 (Mexico) (individual) [SDNTK] The following entities have been added to OFAC's SDN list: AGRICOLA GAXIOLA S.A. DE C.V., Calle Colonizadores No. exterior 83 y No.interior D, Esq. Quintas de las Aves, Col. Las Quintas, Hermosillo, Sonora 83240, Mexico; R.F.C. AGA9607119X3 (Mexico) [SDNTK] BIOESPORT S.A. DE C.V., Avenida Ave. 13 y Morelos S/N, Colonia Bachoco, Hermosillo, Sonora 83148, Mexico; R.F.C. BIO901025VE2 (Mexico) [SDNTK] COMPANIA MINERA DEL RIO CIANURY S.A. DE C.V., Calle Rio Piaxtla No. exterior 45, Col. Guadalupe, Culiacan, Sinaloa 80220, Mexico; R.F.C. MRC900823R6A (Mexico) [SDNTK] COPA DE PLATA S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; R.F.C. CPL9103222F5 (Mexico) [SDNTK] DISTRIBUIDORA DE HERMOSILLO GAXIOLA HERMANOS S.A. DE C.V. (a.k.a. MADYVA), Fco. Eusebio Kino 177-7, Col. 5 de Mayo, Hermosillo, Sonora 83010, Mexico; Blvd. Luis Encinas 581, Esquina Alberto Truqui, Colonia Pimentel, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; R.F.C. DHG900717NV3 (Mexico) [SDNTK] DISTRIBUIDORA GRAN AUTO S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; R.F.C. DGA960531NUA (Mexico) [SDNTK] FLETES Y TRANSPORTES GAXGAR S.A. DE C.V., Boulevard Luis Encinas No 581-B Esquina Alberto Truqui, Colonia Pimentel, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; Alberto Truqui 581, Col. Pimentel, CP 83188, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, Hermosillo, Sonora 83188, Mexico; R.F.C. FTG950807F20 (Mexico) [SDNTK] GRUPO INDUSTRIAL GAXIOLA HERMANOS S.A. DE C.V. (a.k.a. GRUPO INDUSTRIAL GAXIOLA; f.k.a. MADYVA), Luis Encinas y Alberto Truqui, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Calle del Oro, Esq. Vinedo, Colonia Parque Industrial, Hermosillo, Sonora 83299, Mexico; Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; R.F.C. GIG910522BR8 (Mexico) [SDNTK] INMOBILIARIA GAXIOLA HERMANOS S.A. DE C.V. (f.k.a. DISTRIBUIDORA DE MUEBLES GAXIOLA HERMANOS; a.k.a. INMOBILIARIA GAXIOLA), Blvd. Francisco Eusebio km. 177-7, Col. 5 de Mayo, Hermosillo, Sonora 83010, Mexico; Blvd. L Encinas numero 581-A, Esquina Truqui, Colonia Pimentel, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Michoacan 404 Inter. 11, Colonia Cerrada Paraiso, Hermosillo, Sonora 83170, Mexico; Blvd. Jose Maria Morelos s/n y Ave 13 Col Colinas del Bachoco, Hermosilo, Sonora 83000, Mexico; Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; R.F.C. IGH910522UM3 (Mexico); alt. R.F.C. DMG910522 (Mexico) [SDNTK] INMUEBLES SIERRA VISTA S.A. DE C.V., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico [SDNTK] MINERA LA CASTELLANA Y ANEXAS S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico; R.F.C. MCA9011192R3 (Mexico) [SDNTK] MINERA RIO PRESIDIO S.A. DE C.V., Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico [SDNTK] MOLDURAS DEL NOROESTE S.A. DE C.V., Blvd. Francisco Eusebio Kino 177-7, Col. 5 de Mayo, Hermosillo, Sonora 83010, Mexico; R.F.C. MNO960403HJ0 (Mexico) [SDNTK] TEMPLE DEL PITIC S.A. DE C.V. (f.k.a. CORPORATIVO GAXIOLA HERMANOS S.A. DE C.V.), Blvd. Francisco Eusebio Kino 177-7, Col. 5 de Mayo, Hermosillo, Sonora 83010, Mexico; Avenida Angel Garcia Aburto #62, Colonia Loma Linda, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; Colonizadores No. 83D, Colonia Las Quintas, Esq. Quintas de las Aves, Hermosillo, Sonora 83240, Mexico; Blvd Rodriguez 108, Col Centro, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; R.F.C. CGH960503DL9 (Mexico); d.b.a. "ANARQUIA PAINTBALL" [SDNTK]