Five individuals tied to Ecuador’s notorious Los Lobos gang have been sentenced for the brutal assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Villavicencio, a former journalist and member of the national assembly, was gunned down after a campaign rally in Quito last August. Gang leader Carlos Angulo, known as The Invisible, and Laura Castilla were handed lengthy prison terms for orchestrating the murder. Three others received 12-year sentences for aiding in the attack.
According to prosecutors, Angulo directed the hit from prison, where he was serving time on firearms charges. Castilla facilitated the logistics of the murder, providing weapons, money, and motorcycles. Villavicencio, an anti-corruption activist, had been vocal about organized crime in Ecuador, receiving death threats leading up to his assassination.
A key witness revealed that the gang was offered over $200,000 to kill Villavicencio. The investigation into who contracted Los Lobos is ongoing. Despite the ruling bringing some closure, Villavicencio’s widow emphasized that the fight for justice continues in a country grappling with rising crime linked to powerful cartels.