Convicted drug trafficker ‘El Mago,’ who was linked to the infamous Sinaloa cartel, shot dead in LA: authorities

A convicted subordinate of the Sinaloa cartel who was pals with the lad of jailed cause kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and loved flaunting pictures of himself posing with Al Pacino and different celebrities was gunned on an concern agelong adjacent Los Angeles, authorities said.

Eduardo Escobedo, 39, was 1 of 2 men killed Thanksgiving greeting on Towne Avenue successful Willowbrook, Calif., according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The different unfortunate was convicted cause trader Guillermo De Los Angeles Jr., 47, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Escobedo was nicknamed “El Mago,” which translates to “The Magician.” Once the cartel’s apical marijuana trafficker, helium served 4 years and 9 months successful a national lockup for conspiring to administer much than 10,000 kilos of cookware — astir 22,000 lbs — and laundering cause proceeds. He was released successful 2018.

Escobedo and De Los Angeles died astatine the country aft sheriff’s deputies responded to a study of shots being fired successful the concern country filled with warehouses. A 3rd antheral was taken to a section infirmary with non-life threatening gunshot wounds.He was not identified.

Eduardo Escobedo was 1 of 2 men killed Thanksgiving greeting on Towne Avenue successful Willowbrook, Calif.Instagram

“It appears that determination was immoderate benignant of gathering oregon enactment astatine the determination from past nighttime to aboriginal this morning,” Lt. Omar Camacho told KABC-TV Channel 7 astatine the scene.

Camacho said authorities had not determined motive for the killings.

Raised successful East Los Angeles, Escobedo became the superior cookware distributor locally to Guzman’s oldest son, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, according to the LA Times. He laundered the proceeds successful portion by buying exotic cars and shipping them to Culiacan, Sinaloa’s superior and the cartel’s stronghold.

It’s believed Escobedo besides ordered the execution of a rival trafficker who was gunned down successful his Bentley connected the 101 Freeway successful 2008. While Escobedo was ne'er charged successful the murder, his member and different antheral were convicted and are serving beingness sentences.

In October 2013, Escobedo was caught connected a wiretap speaking with Guzman Salazar astir smuggling much than 5 tons of marijuana done a passageway nether the U.S.-Mexico border, prosecutors said

Escobedo became the superior cookware distributor locally to Guzman’s oldest son.Instagram

Guzman Salazar remains 1 of Mexico’s astir wanted men.

Escobedo besides openly flaunted an opulent manner connected societal media successful caller years posing for photographs with Floyd Mayweather, Al Pacino and different celebs. He besides wore flashy tracksuits by Dolce and Gabbana and a diamond-encrusted Richard Mille watch.

One photograph showed Escobedo holding a duffel container afloat of money, according to the Times In another, helium embraces a subordinate of the Mexican Mafia portion holding a vessel of Dom Perignon champagne.