Victims of Juarez Cartel Massacre Fight to Recover $4.64 Billion

The families of American victims killed in a 2019 Juarez Cartel ambush are pursuing over $4.64 billion in seized cartel assets. Despite a $4.64 billion judgment against the cartel, federal prosecutors in New York are challenging the legal maneuvers of the law firm representing the families. The case highlights the ongoing battle to hold cartels accountable for their crimes and the complexities of asset forfeiture law.

In 2019, the Juarez Cartel brutally attacked a group of American mothers and children in Mexico, killing three women and six children. The families of the victims filed a federal lawsuit under the Anti-Terrorism Act, resulting in a $4.64 billion judgment against the cartel.

To collect on the judgment, the law firm representing the families, Motley Rice Law Firm, filed over 1,200 claims against U.S. law enforcement-seized cash and assets from Mexican drug trafficking operations. Many of these smaller claims have been resolved, but the firm faced a hurdle when it pursued $6.25 million seized in a 2021 money laundering bust in New York.

The Southern District of New York prosecutor, Damian Williams, argued that there was no connection between the money laundering scheme and the 2019 massacre. He filed a motion to dismiss the forfeiture case, claiming that awarding the money to the victims' families would impair the government's interest in the assets.

The Motley Firm declined to comment until there is a decision. However, a recent case in Ohio awarded the victims' families $9.93 million in seized assets, conflicting with the New York prosecutor's stance. The competing decisions could be part of the Motley Firm's strategy to set up an appellate court challenge.

The case raises questions about the complexities of asset forfeiture law and the balance between compensating victims of terrorism and protecting the government's interest in seized assets. The DEA has warned that the most powerful Mexican cartels operate in all 50 states, posing a significant national security threat.

The victims' families have tirelessly pursued justice and compensation for the senseless deaths of their loved ones. The outcome of the forfeiture case will have implications for future efforts to hold cartels accountable for their heinous crimes.