Joel Luna, a US Border Patrol agent and a U.S. Army verteran, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for engaging in organized crime activity, drug smuggling for the Gulf Cartel. The original capital murder charge was dismissed by the District Attorney, since there wasen't sufficient evidence to tie him to the headless body of Franky Palacios found in March of 2015.
(Joel and his lawyer nearing end of trial)
His brother wasen't so lucky. Eduardo Luna, a commander for the notorious Gulf Cartel , was convicted of capital murder and drug trafficking and was served life in prison without the possibility of parole and also 50 years on top for the drug trafficking charge. The District Attorney wanted to make an example of the government employed Luna. Making sure the public knew they are showing no mercy to anyone deciding to flip from officer to criminal.
(Fernando testifying against his own family)
The victim worked at one of the brothers tire shop. Palacios's nude, decapitated body was found near South Padre Island. It was confessed that he was murdered because he was about to give up the two brothers and their illegal drug operation.
(safe belonging to Luna at time of discovering)
To the two brothers's surprise, it was the older brother, Fernando Luna, that sealed their fates and sent them to prison. He took the stand and testified to being with Palacios in the tire shop watching T.V. when Eduardo walked in and put a bullet in his brain. They then proceeded to remove the head and dump him in Laguna Madre. With his own brothers testimony, his life in prison now became a reality.
(Luna at the start of the trial)
Once Eduardo was painted for the ruthless killer that he is, they needed to decide if Joel played a part in the murder. Even knowledge of the hit would constitute the same fate as his brother. The jury poured over text messages and phone calls made between the two brothers, Joel and Eduardo, as well as the testimony of the older brother to try and find a connection. In the given testimony Fernando stated that he was worried for his young brother because he housed the families of both him and Eduardo which were there illegally. That was as bad as it got when it came to the murder charge.
(Joel Lunas lawyer, Luna in back)
There was a black steel safe found at the home of joels mother in law. Inside were various things that incriminated him and made the allegations of him trafficking a lot stronger. Drugs, $8900 in cash , a .38 caliber pistol with ammo and a ledger full of drug transactions are the things that did him in. For that he was given 20 years in prison.
Two others were also charged for the Palacio murder : Nestor Manuel Leal and Aaron Rodriguez Medellin. Their trials were separate from the Lunas, set to start at a later date. For snitching on his brothers, Fernando Luna pleaded guilty to possesion of a controlled substance with a max of two years and probation. Not a bad deal. Thanks for reading.
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