Life sentence for woman in hitman ring in Rosario for Ludueña murder
Samanta Vilches was sentenced to life imprisonment for her role in the murder of Verónica Almada in Rosario in 2022. She coordinated weapons and payments under orders from her imprisoned partner.
Life sentence for hitman ring accomplice in Rosario for 2022 homicide
Samanta Joana Vilches, 37, received a life sentence on Friday for her participation in a hitman network that operated in Rosario. According to infobae.com, the Criminal Justice Centre tribunal—composed of judges Lorena Aronne, Mariano Aliau and Eleonora Verón—found the prosecution's case brought by prosecutor Carla Ranciari to be proven.
Vilches was identified as a key figure in the murder of Verónica Natalia Almada, which occurred on 18 February 2022 in the Ludueña neighbourhood. That night, four hooded individuals travelling in a red Fiat Punto fired around 20 shots at the residence on Urquiza at 6000. The original target was Jonatan "Peco" Almada, but the attackers mistakenly killed his sister Verónica. In the shooting, a six-month-old baby, the victim's son, and a 22-year-old young woman were also injured. For these acts, Vilches additionally received a charge of attempted murder in both cases.
Vilches's role and telephone wiretaps
The ruling was based on telephone interceptions that revealed the mechanics of the crime. "Vilches set in motion what had been planned with Giménez and confirmed the residence where the victim could be found, handed over the weapons for other people to carry out the attack, and then took care of the agreed payment," the prosecution established.
The wiretaps also captured a communication after the event in which one of the attackers addressed Giménez regarding the mistake made: "Comrade, I'm certain it was him. The one in the photo, dark-haired. But anyway, unfortunately I took out everyone around him, friend".
Vilches was arrested on 27 May 2022, after visiting Fabio Giménez in Coronda prison.
Fabio Giménez: criminal organisation from prison
Vilches's conviction shines a light on Fabio Giménez, her then partner and leader of the organisation, who coordinated extortions, murders and recruitment of collaborators—including minors and family members—from Penitentiary Unit No. 3 and subsequently from Coronda.
Giménez already had a notorious record in Rosario by 2022. His history includes a 15-year sentence for extortions, organising shootings against traders in Villa Gobernador Gálvez and south Rosario, and recruiting executors for the murder of Nicolás "Fino" Ocampo in April 2021. He also received an 11-year sentence after a businessman hired him to eliminate a former partner. All these operations were structured with external collaborators, among whom Vilches was numbered.
Context: dispute between gangs in north-west Rosario
Verónica Almada was the sister of Jonatan "Peco" Almada, a prominent member of a local gang at odds with the group known as "los Riquelme". Between 2021 and 2022, both organisations were responsible for an escalation of murders and extortions in neighbourhoods such as Ludueña and Empalme Graneros.
Several members of Jonatan Almada's organisation have already accepted sentences through abbreviated trials. Almada, however, is the only leader to reach the stage of oral trial and faces a request for 40 years imprisonment for his role as organiser in the illicit association.
Source: Google News CL — Santiago