Prosecution to ask for Mexican Mafia change of venue

RAYMONDVILLE — Prosecutors will ask a special grand jury to upgrade charges to capital murder against reputed members of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, officials said Thursday.

The Cameron County District Attorney’s Office on Monday will seek to re-indict reputed gang members in the 2003 killing of Jo Ann Chavez, 33, of Harlingen, Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Rubane said at a hearing Thursday.

State District Judge Migdalia Lopez later issued a gag order to prohibit attorneys from releasing information on the case to the news media.

Defense attorney Alfredo Padilla argued that the news media could publish attorneys’ information that could taint the jury pool.

“I’m going to instruct you not to be talking to the press,” Lopez told attorneys. “This case is not going to be tried before the press. It’s going to be tried before a jury.”