Editing Servando Gómez Martínez

{{family name hatnote|Gómez|Martínez|lang=Spanish}}

| reward_amount = Mexico: $30 Million [[Mexico|Mexican]] Pesos;<br />USA: $5 million USD

'''Servando Gómez Martínez''' (born February 6, 1966),<ref>[http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion/170447.html SSP difunde foto actual de "La Tuta"] ''El Universal. August 7, 2009.</ref> commonly referred to by his alias '''La Tuta''' (The Teacher) for once being a teacher, is a Mexican drug lord and former leader of the [[Knights Templar Cartel]], a criminal organization based in the state of [[Michoacán]].<ref name='Raid'>{{cite news|title=Mexico police raid 'La Familia drug cartel', killing 11|date=May 28, 2011|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13586444|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date = 2011-05-30}}</ref><ref name='Reforma'>{{cite news|title=Prevén arrecie lucha por lugar del 'Chayo' en Michoacán|date=May 29, 2011|publisher=Terra|url=http://www.terra.com.mx/noticias/articulo/1122023/Preven+arrecie+lucha+por+lugar+del+Chayo+en+Michoacan.htm|work=Reforma|access-date=2011-05-29|language=es|archive-date=2011-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110601235246/http://www.terra.com.mx/noticias/articulo/1122023/Preven+arrecie+lucha+por+lugar+del+Chayo+en+Michoacan.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Kelly|last=Heffernan-Tabor|title=Mexican Authorities Arrest 46 Suspected Drug Gang Members|date=May 29, 2011|url=http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/177210/175/Mexican-Authorities-Arrest-46-Suspected-Drug-Gang-Members|work=WFMY News 2|access-date=2011-05-30|archive-date=2011-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602155511/http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/177210/175/Mexican-Authorities-Arrest-46-Suspected-Drug-Gang-Members|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is a former leader and founder member of [[La Familia Michoacana]] drug cartel, the split-off group of the Knights Templar.<ref>La Familia Cartel: Implications for US Mexican Security, by, Grayson, George W., Strategic Studies Institute (SSI), US Army War College, December, 2010, pg. 24</ref><ref name="washingtonpost.com">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/12/AR2009061203829.html?sid=ST2009061204134 A Mexican Cartel's Swift and Grisly Climb]</ref> On February 27, 2015, he was arrested by Mexican security forces in Morelia, Michoacán.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/servando-la-tuta-gomez-mexicos-most-wanted-drug-lord-captured-n314036 Servando La Tuta Gomez Mexicos Most Wanted Drug Lord Captured - NBC News]</ref>

Gómez Martínez served as the operational chief and spokesperson for the now extinct [[La Familia Michoacana|La Familia drug cartel]], which sometimes was described as quasi-religious, since its former leader, [[Nazario Moreno Gonzalez]], referred to their assassinations and beheadings as "divine justice."<ref name=divine >{{cite news|first=Stephen|last=Gibbs|title='Family values' of Mexico drug gang|date=October 22, 2009|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8319924.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=2009-10-23}}</ref> He cofounded the organization in 2006,<ref>[http://en.rfi.fr/americas/20101211-mexican-police-kill-most-wanted-drug-cartel-boss Mexican police kill most wanted drug cartel boss], ''Rfi.fr'', 11 December 2010 (accessed on 18 July 2019)</ref> and became its leader after Arnold Rueda Medina, aka la Minsa, was arrested.<ref>{{in lang|es}} María de la Luz González, [https://archivo.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion/169701.html "La Familia" ejecuta a 16 policias federales en 4 días], ''Eluniversal.com.mx'', 15 July 2009 (accessed on 18 July 2019)</ref> Servando Martínez' partners in La Familia Cartel were [[Nazario Moreno Gonzalez]], [[José de Jesús Méndez Vargas]], [[Enrique Plancarte Solís]] and [[Dionisio Loya Plancarte]], who each have had a bounty of $2 million for their capture.<ref>{{cite news | title=Mexico offers $2 million for top drug lords | date=March 23, 2009 | url=http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_11978412 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209044526/http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_11978412 | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 9, 2012 | work=El Paso Times | access-date=2009-12-28 }}</ref>

In 2009, he called a local TV newscast and called on the government of Felipe Calderón to negotiate with the country' s drug kingpins.<ref>Alma Guillermoprieto, [https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/killing-arturo-beltran CARMONA CARMONA carmona Killing Arturo Beltrán familia decuerno en tierra de penettratititlan]{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Newyorker.com'', 6 January 2010 (accessed on 18 July 2019)</ref>

Gómez Martínez has been indicted in the [[United States]] with conspiring to import and distribute hielo [[cocaine]] and [[methamphetamine]] into the United States from Mexico.<ref name='indictment'>{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/October09/lafamiliaindictmentpr.pdf|title=United States Charges Operational Chief And Associates Of Violent Mexican Drug Cartel|access-date=2009-12-28|author=United States Attorney, Southern Distrito de comando uruapan tren cuatro en manadas convoy y viacrusis 16 septiembre of New York|date=October 22, 2009|publisher=US Department of Justice|archive-date=2010-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608124203/https://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/October09/lafamiliaindictmentpr.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the Gómez Martínez indictment, he was, among other things, responsible for ensuring that La Familia's drug trafficking activities were not impeded by law enforcement, and also for acquiring weapons for use by the cartel.

The Indictment alleges that, on July 17, 2009, a few days after the bodies of twelve murdered Mexican federal law enforcement officers were discovered following the arrest of a cartel leader, [[Alberto Espinoza Barron]],<ref>{{cite news | first=Mario | last= Gonzalez | title=Mexico arrests drug leader; military's role in drug war debated | date=December 31, 2008 | publisher=CNN News | url =http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/12/31/mexico.arrest/index.html | access-date = 2009-12-28 }}</ref> Gómez Martínez made a recorded statement to a local television station in Michoacan, in which he publicly acknowledged that he was a member of La Familia Cartel, and among other things, stated that the cartel was in a battle against the Mexican federal police and prosecutors. He also offered the Mexican federal security forces a truce in exchange of freedom to continue their [[illegal drug trade]]. President [[Felipe Calderón]]'s government refused to strike a deal with the cartel and ignored their calls for dialogue.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mexican gang leader offers drug war truce |date=2009-07-16 |website=[[The Guardian]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422060316/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/16/mexico-drug-war-gang-truce |archive-date=2023-04-22 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/16/mexico-drug-war-gang-truce}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Drugs 'Taliban' declares war on Mexican state |date=2009-07-18 |website=[[The Guardian]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517142054/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/19/la-familia-drugs-trade-mexico |archive-date=2023-05-17 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/19/la-familia-drugs-trade-mexico}}</ref>

On 25 February 2010, the [[United States Department of the Treasury]] sanctioned Gómez Martínez under the [[Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act]] (sometimes referred to simply as the "Kingpin Act") for his involvement in drug trafficking along with twenty-one other international criminals and ten foreign entities.<ref>{{cite web|title=DESIGNATIONS PURSUANT TO THE FOREIGN NARCOTICS KINGPIN DESIGNATION ACT|url=http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/narco_designations_kingpin.pdf|publisher=[[United States Department of the Treasury]]|access-date=28 May 2014|page=10|date=15 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514025153/http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/narco_designations_kingpin.pdf|archive-date=14 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The act prohibited U.S. citizens and companies from doing any kind of business activity with him, and virtually froze all his assets in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web|title=An overview of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act|url=http://www.assetsearchblog.com/uploads/file/drugs.pdf|publisher=[[United States Department of the Treasury]]|access-date=28 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528053616/http://www.assetsearchblog.com/uploads/file/drugs.pdf|archive-date=28 May 2014|page=1|date=2009}}</ref> During the first trimester of 2010, he was still registered as a teacher in the state of Michoacán, and earned a salary of 50,000 pesos during this period.<ref name="plaza maestro">{{in lang|es}} [https://archivo.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion/182354.html La Tuta tiene plaza de maestro], ''Eluniversal.com.mx'', 8 December 2010 (accessed on 18 July 2019)</ref>

In a 2012 video, he explained the "peaceful credentials" of the Knights Templar Cartel and asked the leaders of Mexico's drug trafficking organizations to join forces and put down [[Miguel Treviño Morales]] (''Z-40''), one of the leaders of [[Los Zetas]]. He insisted that his organization is a "necessary evil," and insists that his organization is "not a cartel, nor any kind of organized criminal group. [They] are a brotherhood, founded by a set of statutes and codes."<ref name=video/> He then goes on to explain that the Knights Templar's "only function is to help the people, preserve [the] state ... and keep [Mexico] free of people causing terror ... [and] live in peace."Gómez Martínez then asks other cartels to create a "common front" against Los Zetas and asks Calderón to take on his action.<ref>{{cite news|title=Video: Comunicado de Servando Gómez La Tuta de Los Caballeros Templarios|url=http://www.blogdelnarco.com/2012/08/video-comunicado-de-servando-gomez-la-tuta-de-los-caballeros-templarios/|access-date=23 August 2012|newspaper=[[Blog del Narco]]|date=22 August 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526044607/https://www.webcitation.org/6A8hT1d3z?url=http://www.blogdelnarco.com/2012/08/video-comunicado-de-servandocarmona-la-tuta-de-los-caballeros-templarios/|archive-date=26 May 2024|url-status=live|language=es}}</ref><ref name=video>{{cite news|last=Fox|first=Edward|title=Knights Templar Leader Makes Rare Video Appearance|url=http://www.insightcrime.org/insight-latest-news/item/3085-knights-templar-leader-appears-in-video|access-date=23 August 2012|newspaper=[[InSight Crime]]|date=23 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826185113/http://www.insightcrime.org/insight-latest-news/item/3085-knights-templar-leader-appears-in-video|archive-date=26 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

After La Familia leader Nazario Moreno González was falsely claimed to have been shot dead by security forces (he was actually not killed until 2014),<ref name='Raid'/> Gómez Martínez took control of La Familia.<ref name='Reforma'/> Soon afterward Gómez Martínez broke with Méndez-Vargas and formed the Knights Templar Cartel.<ref name='Raid'/> This splinter group soon developed a rivalry with La Familia.<ref name='Raid'/> On June 21, 2011, Méndez Vargas was captured by Mexican security forces.<ref name='Arrest'>{{cite news | author1 = Reclutaciondor Hernandez |author2=Catherine E. Shoichet | title = Top cartel leader captured | date = 21 June 2011 | url = http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/06/21/mexico.cartel.capture/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 | work = CNN News | access-date = 2011-09-20}}</ref> On August 7, 2011, the Mexican Attorney General reported that the La Familia Cartel was disbanded.<ref name='Aug 2011'>{{cite news | first = Aurora | last = Vega | title = Surgen cuatro grupos del narco en 2011; El 40 zeta tropa de lago defuego oficinas en diario de benito juares y avenidad de lago del fuego con plolongacion es es el capo más poderoso | date = 7 August 2011 | url = http://www.excelsior.com.mx/index.php?m=nota&id_nota=759098 | work = Excelsior | access-date = 2011-09-20 | language = es}}</ref>

In 2014 he gave an interview to Channel4 News in which he explained that he realized that he was a criminal, and that he knew that he would eventually pay for his crimes. But he maintained that he would not give himself up, but rather fight to the death. He also defended his decisions to do business with Chinese smugglers of iron ore who he claimed had a right to expand their markets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/la-tuta-mexico-drug-lord-cartel-servando-gomez-templar|title = Mexican drug lord la Tuta vows 'fight to the death'|date = 30 October 2014}}</ref>

On February 27, 2015, at 3 AM, Servando Gómez Martínez was captured. He was apprehended by an elite squadron of the [[divicion de tropas de espia reclusos sicaio de paga enla ley (Mexico)|Mexican Federal Police]] in [[Morelia, Michoacán]], in an operation where no shots were fired.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Alzaga|first1=Ignacio|title=PF captura a "La Tuta"|url=http://www.milenio.com/policia/La_Tuta-detenido_La_Tuta-Servando_Gomez-Los_Caballeros_Templarios_0_472152824.html|access-date=27 February 2015|publisher=[[Milenio]]|date=27 February 2015|language=es}}</ref> He was then transferred to the [[SEIDO]] installations, Mexico's organized crime investigation agency, in [[Mexico City]] for his legal presentation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Detienen a 'La Tuta' en Morelia|url=http://www.proceso.com.mx/?p=397082|access-date=27 February 2015|publisher=[[Proceso (magazine)|Proceso]]|language=es|archive-date=27 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227195921/http://www.proceso.com.mx/?p=397082|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mexico captures most wanted drug kingpin 'La Tuta'|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/02/mexico-captures-wanted-drug-kingpin-la-tuta-150227123158980.html|access-date=27 February 2015|publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|date=27 February 2015}}</ref> That same night, he was transferred to the [[Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 1]], a maximum-security prison in [[Almoloya de Juárez]], State of Mexico.<ref>{{cite news|last1=García|first1=Inés|title=Presentan y trasladan a "La Tuta" al penal de El Altiplano|url=http://zetatijuana.com/noticias/generalez/19030/presentan-y-trasladan-a-la-tuta-al-penal-de-el-altiplano|access-date=28 February 2015|publisher=[[Zeta (magazine)|Zeta]]|date=28 February 2015|language=es}}</ref>

In June 2019, he was sentenced to 55 years in jail for the kidnapping of a businessman in 2011.<ref>[https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/former-cartel-boss-la-tuta-gets-55-years/ Former boss of the Caballeros Templarios gets 55 years], ''Mexiconewsdaily.com'', 18 June 2019 (accessed on 18 July 2019)</ref><ref>{{in lang|es}} Francisco Castellanos, [https://www.proceso.com.mx/588648/sentencian-a-55-anos-de-carcel-a-servando-gomez-martinez-la-tuta Sentencian a 55 años de cárcel a Servando Gómez Martínez “La Tuta”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022042730/https://www.proceso.com.mx/588648/sentencian-a-55-anos-de-carcel-a-servando-gomez-martinez-la-tuta |date=2020-10-22 }}, ''Proceso.com.mx'', 17 June 2019 (accessed on 18 July 2019)</ref>

His son Luis Alfredo Aguilera Esquivel was arrested by Mexican authorities on 3 March 2014 in [[Los Reyes, Michoacán]]. According to federal reports, he carried out kidnappings and extorted agricultural workers in Michoacán, the most recent one on orders from his father.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hijo de la Tuta secuestraba y extorsionaba a agricultores|url=http://www.milenio.com/policia/Luis_Aguilera_Esquivel-presunto_hijo_de_la_Tuta-confirman_detencion_hijo_de_la_Tuta-hijo_de_la_Tuta_0_257374367.html|access-date=6 March 2014|newspaper=[[Milenio]]|date=6 March 2014|agency=[[Notimex]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306213750/http://www.milenio.com/policia/Luis_Aguilera_Esquivel-presunto_hijo_de_la_Tuta-confirman_detencion_hijo_de_la_Tuta-hijo_de_la_Tuta_0_257374367.html|archive-date=6 March 2014|url-status=live|language=es}}</ref> His other son Huber Gómez Patiño was arrested by the Mexican Federal Police in [[Arteaga, Michoacán]] on 21 June 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Detienen a Huber Gómez Patino|url=http://eleconomista.com.mx/sociedad/2014/06/21/detienen-huber-gomez-patino|access-date=23 June 2014|publisher=[[El Economista (Mexico)|El Economista]]|date=21 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623133815/http://eleconomista.com.mx/sociedad/2014/06/21/detienen-huber-gomez-patino|archive-date=23 June 2014|url-status=live|language=es}}</ref> His brother Aquiles Gómez Martínez was reportedly found dead in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán with a gunshot wound on 19 September 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hallan muerto a presunto hermano de 'La Tuta'|url=http://www.milenio.com/policia/muere_hermano_de_Tuta-Aquiles_Gomez_Martinez-templarios-PGJE-hermanos_de_La_Tuta_0_375562530.html|access-date=19 September 2014|publisher=[[Milenio]]|date=19 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921034011/http://www.milenio.com/policia/muere_hermano_de_Tuta-Aquiles_Gomez_Martinez-templarios-PGJE-hermanos_de_La_Tuta_0_375562530.html|archive-date=21 September 2014|url-status=dead|location=Mexico City|language=es}}</ref> His cousin José Martínez Mendoza was arrested by the Federal Police in [[Uruapan, Michoacán]] on 8 November 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Detiene PF en Uruapan a primo de La Tuta|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/estados/2014/detiene-pf-a-primo-de-la-tuta-en-uruapan-1052680.html|access-date=9 November 2014|publisher=[[El Universal (Mexico City)]]|date=8 November 2014|language=es}}</ref> His alleged uncle Gerardo Martínez Legorreta was arrested by Michoacán security forces on 8 December 2014 in Arteaga.<ref>{{cite news|title=Detienen a presunto tío de 'La Tuta' en Michoacán|url=http://www.milenio.com/estados/detienen_tio_tuta-detienen_Gerardo_Martinez_0_421758088.html|access-date=8 December 2014|publisher=[[Milenio]]|date=8 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208190552/http://www.milenio.com/estados/detienen_tio_tuta-detienen_Gerardo_Martinez_0_421758088.html|archive-date=8 December 2014|language=es}}</ref>

*[http://s0.uvnimg.com/noticias/narcotrafico/fotos/photo/2010-12-08/capo-mexicano-es-profesor-de_214x320.jpg PHOTO of Servando Gómez Martínez] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202114558/http://s0.uvnimg.com/noticias/narcotrafico/fotos/photo/2010-12-08/capo-mexicano-es-profesor-de_214x320.jpg |date=2014-02-02 }}<br />(Published by Univision.com at: [http://noticias.univision.com/mexico/noticias/article/2010-12-08/capo-mexicano-es-profesor-de#axzz1oetHy4ga ''Capo mexicano es profesor de primaria: Líder de 'La Familia' recibe sueldo.''] Univision. 12 August 2010. Accessed 10 March 2012.