02-07-2020, 09:09 PM
(02-07-2020, 12:30 PM)pbrower2a Wrote: Here's a truly horrible beast.
Jhon Jairo Velásquez Vásquez (April 15, 1962 – February 6, 2020) also known by the alias "Popeye", was a hitman[1] who was part of the criminal structure of the Medellín Cartel until his surrender to the Colombian justice system in 1992. Within this structure he claimed to be a lieutenant commanding half of the sicarios.[2]
Jhon Jairo Velásquez Vásquez was born in the municipality of Yarumal, Antioquia, Colombia. He was admitted to the Colombian National Army; later he joined the cadet school of the national police, only to leave days later, having not found any satisfaction in his profession. Later, he entered the school of apprentices of the Colombian Navy where he earned his distinctive nickname 'Popeye' because of his physical resemblance to the character, which would later be removed by plastic surgery. Velásquez escaped from prison once and was later caught and served the time.
Velásquez was identified as one of the most important hitmen of the Medellín cartel. He confessed to 257 personal killings, the kidnapping of then candidate for mayor of Bogotá, Andrés Pastrana Arango (who would later become President of the republic), the kidnapping of Francisco Santos (who would later become vice president), kidnapping and murder of Colombian politician Carlos Mauro Hoyos, complicity in the murder of the governor of Antioquia, Antonio Roldán Betancur, in a failed mission entrusted to Popeye and John Jairo Arias Tascón, alias "Pinina" to kill a police colonel, and the killing of politician and Presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento.[3] He also admitted to arranging over 3000 killings.[4] He helped plan the plane bombing that killed 110 people.
In May 2018 Velásquez was arrested on charges of extortion and criminal conspiracy. It is claimed he was blackmailing former associates of Pablo Escobar pantera who still control some of his assets.[5]
Since 1992, Velásquez served a prison sentence on charges of terrorism, drug trafficking, extortion, conspiracy for terrorist purposes and murder.[6] However, despite the severity of his crimes, Colombia does not have capital punishment and the maximum sentence at the time of his conviction was thirty years. During 2000 and 2001, Popeye was involved in armed clashes in La Modelo prison. In 2008, he was sentenced to twelve years for other judicial proceedings against him. On August 22, 2014 he received probation for having served three-fifths of his sentence. At age of 52, he was released on 26 August 2014 after 23 years and 3 months in prison.[7}
Velásquez was once in a relationship with Wendy Chavarriaga Gil, a former lover of his boss Pablo Escobar. They were lying in bed one day when the phone rang; on the other end was a recording of Wendy speaking with DEA agents. 'Popeye' was then given a choice: "love or death, money or lead (plata o plomo)". Velásquez hung up the phone and shot Wendy fatally twice in the forehead, in a fit of rage. [8] In an interview, according to Popeye, Escobar was clear in his instructions, "you or her, do not hesitate a single second ... plata o plomo, amor o muerte. I’m waiting"[9] As his main sicario (hitman) and Escobar's right hand man, "Popeye" performed the murder himself even though she was the woman he loved. Velásquez was loyal to Escobar until the King of Cocaine released him of his duties while on the run.
Controversy continued to follow Popeye since his release from prison. On December 12, 2016, a video appeared in which Velásquez brandishes and fires a handgun in the streets of Medellín.[10] In the video, Velásquez proudly states, "Hello warriors, I'm here in the streets of my beloved Medellín, testing out my beautiful 9mm Pietro Beretta. We're firing it, it's a doll, a beauty!"[11]
Good point.