KRGV.com

LAREDO - Jurors in Laredo are now deliberating the fate of a man prosecutors say is behind cartel attacks on this side of the border. Federal agents say Gerardo Castillo-Chavez is part of a major cartel operation.

There was a recap in court Tuesday morning of everything in the case up to this point. Agents laid out the inner-workings of the Zeta cartel. At the time of this investigation, the Zetas were still the enforcement arm of the Gulf Cartel. Castillo-Chavez is believed to be part of that enforcement.

Testimony given in this case says Zetas would kidnap, kill and then toast to Santa Muerte. The hitmen would allegedly drink blood of their victims, some of whom were living on this side of the border.

This is a tough case to prove. The feds must prove Castillo not only committed some of the crimes but that he is also part of the conspiracy to commit the crime.