39-year-old Ricardo Mondragon-Martinez, The Paletería Yayo Popsicle Street Vendor Who Was The Victim Of An Aggressive Assault At Mitchell Park Arrested In Milwaukee

Mondragon-Martinez is being held at the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office jail on a warrant from Outagamie County.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 8, 2024

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Monday, Ricardo Mondragon-Martinez, 39, was taken into custody and booked at the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office jail and was placed on hold (no bail) for the Appleton Police Department. According to court records, Mondragon-Martinez has had an open bench warrant since November 19, 2018 in Outagamie County for one misdemeanor count for operating a vehicle without a driver's license (second offense in 3 years). He was charged with the misdemeanor on June 13, 2018, according to court records.

If convicted in Outagamie County, Mondragon-Martinez is facing up to 6 months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines, or both.

Mondragon-Martinez was charged on Wednesday, May 8, in Milwaukee County with assault indecent exposure or intoxication, which is only a forfeiture U (fine), a $484.00 bond was set. Mondragon-Martinez is scheduled for a intake hearing for July 3, 2024.

On September 20, 2023, Mondragon-Martinez pleaded no contest in Milwaukee County to possession of alcohol beverages and was fined $326.50, which is still due today. 

A Facebook (FB) video of Mondragon-Martinez went viral on Sunday when Aaron Thompson III,  who is Afro-American took Mondragon-Martinez's Paletería Yayo popsicle cart without permission, tipped it over and then fled laughing at Mitchell Park on Cinco de Mayo 2024. Mondragon-Martinez, a Mexican popsicle street vendor with Paletería Yayo began drinking after the incident and a majority of the Southside Latino community using FB became outraged and called for Mondragon-Martinez to get Justice.

Thompson III on Monday after he was identified apologized to Mondragon-Martinez in person during a gathering organized by the Wisconsin Brown Berets in the Southside of Milwaukee. Thompson III gave Mondragon-Martinez $100 after apologizing to him. (Full article link: https://shorturl.at/jzKPZ)

Update: The Wisconsin Brown Berets announced on Wednesday, Mondragon-Martinez was bailed out from the Outagamie County Sheriff's Office jail and remains free on bond.

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

Donations accepted/ se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

Justice For Ricardo, The Southside Paletero (Mexican Popsicle Street Vendor) Who Became The Victim Of An Aggressive Assault At Mitchell Park On Cinco De Mayo 2024

The alleged assailant, Aaron Thompson III came out on social media accompanied by a member of the Wisconsin Brown Berets making an apology and offering to give Ricardo, the Mexican popsicle street vendor $100, after a $500 reward was offered leading to the identity of the Black individual that took the paletero's cart without permission and tipped it over, while running away and laughing about it. A posted Facebook video of the incident at Mitchell Park went viral and Thompson III was quickly identified. (Video link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/DJu487NnzC7twPnp/)

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 7, 2024

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Monday, the Black suspect who allegedly took a Paletería Yayo Mexican popsicle cart without permission and then tipped it as he fled running and laughing at Mitchell Park was identified as Aaron Thompson III, soon after a $500 reward was offered by Rafael Hernández and Adriana Bungee Hernández for information leading to his identity.

Thompson III on Monday in a posted Facebook (FB) video by Walter Garron who identified himself as a Wisconsin Brown Beret introduced Thompson III, who then confessed that he took the paletero cart, tipped it and ran from the scene laughing, which the Sunday incident was video recorded at Mitchell Park and went viral once the video clip was posted on FB. (Facebook video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/P7HZAKrLYS9zEWmF/)

The viral video of the incident created outrage in the Southside of Milwaukee and a majority of FB users in social media continue to demand "Justice for Ricardo", the Paletería Yayo, LLC street cart vendor who was victimized at Mitchell Park.

So far, the usual wannabe Latino leaders (who only pose for mainstream media cameras on occasion) haven't organized a public hearing inviting police and the diverse Southside community and those effected to condemned all the chaotic Cinco de Mayo 2024 flag waving parading and cruising celebrations, reported shooting incident at W. Historic Michell St. and S. César E. Chávez Drive, including a Milwaukee police officer getting shot in the upper leg at S. Chávez Drive over the weekend in the Southside.

In Garron's FB video, Thompson III apologized for what he did and explained that he did it as joking around and stated that he was going to give Ricardo $100 and buy additional Mexican popsicles to be given away at a planned Mitchell Park cleanup gathering in the parking lot on Saturday at 10:00 a.m., which is being organized by Garron. Thompson III is expected to be at Mitchell Park on Saturday to help with the Mitchell Park cleanup.

A FB post dated April 30th by Milwaukee County Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez and neighborhood volunteers are planning a Mitchell Park cleanup on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. behind the Mitchell Park Domes located in the Southside of Milwaukee.

Garron says that, if his planned cleanup at Mitchell Park goes beyond noon on Saturday, as a goodwill and community unity gesture, his group will gladly join Supervisor Martinez's cleanup group.

Supervisor Martinez released the following statement on Monday after Sunday's incident involving Thompson III and the Yayo paletero Ricardo, "It is extremely disappointing to see individuals causing disruptions at events meant to uplift our community. I am working to ensure that we make Cinco de Mayo a Countysponsored event in the future with proper security, not just police officers standing at entrances and exits, failing to address the altercations actually going on. Together, as a community, we can mitigate these situations by using the parks as a tool to stop these appalling incidents in the future." 

A second FB video posted by Garron who is working to unite both the Black and Latino Communities including defusing the current tensions and situation shows Thompson III at the Paletería Yayo location at the 1700 block of W. Lincoln Ave. showing Garron, Thompson III, Rene Adan, the owner of Paletería Yayo, LLC and Ricardo, the paletero victim of Thompson's aggression on Sunday. (Facebook video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/DRadvoM2bE72mM5T/)

Adan, the owner of Paletería Yayo also posted a FB video saying that when Ricardo came out on Garron's FB video with Thompson III, Ricardo was allegedly intoxicated and made some out of place comments. Adan also stated that he wasn't aware of what happened at Mitchell Park and Thompson III's aggression against Ricardo, and that Recardo had started drinking after the incident on Sunday. Adan vowed to meet with police and the local alderman to seek justice for Ricardo and to address continued assaults and robberies targeted at paleteros. Once Ricardo can explain to Adan what actually occurred at Mitchell Park, Adan will then decide, if he will seek criminal charges against Thompson III on behalf of Paletería Yayo and Ricardo. Adan says that his employees (paleteros) have been robbed and assaulted on a daily basis, but on Sunday, an aggressive assault committed by Thompson III against Ricardo was video recorded and it went viral. (Facebook video: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/2amTiTYLdnrfBSDp/)

Garron told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) when contacted Monday that Thompson III had contacted him to make an apology to the Southside community and to Ricardo, after Garron first posted Thompson's FB profile sent to him by several FB users who identified him. When Garron was asked, if he noticed before the interview at the Paletería Yayo business that Ricardo was showing signs of being intoxicated, Garron replied "Yes".

In addition, FB users that were at Mitchell Park on Sunday alleged that several black individuals in a Infinity vehicle stole from Rricardo and that one had been taken into custody. HNNUSA hasn't been able to confirm the incident.

Also, another viral video at Mitchell Park showed two Black individuals being taken into custody. A Milwaukee County Sheriff's deputy pulled a AR-15 style loaded pistol from the individual's waistband. Another deputy is seen unloading the weapon.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office hasn't reported any information about their arrests. No weapons are allowed in Milwaukee County Parks.

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

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Suspect Fired Multiple Shots At S. Chávez Drive And W. Historic Mitchell Street After Two Women Fought During Cinco De Mayo 2024 Chaotic Impromptu Crowd Gathering

An unidentified man was taken into custody after he allegedly fired multiple shots to the air just as two women brawled in the middle of the intersection.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 5, 2024

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Sunday, around 8:15 p.m. Milwaukee police responded to the intervention of S. César E. Chávez Drive and W. Historic Mitchell Street to multiple shots fired. An armed male suspect was taken into custody by police.

According to a social media video posted on Facebook by Alvarez Maybelline, two women are seen in a brawl and then a male in a light sweatshirt intervenes while taking out a handgun, loaded the chamber and fired into air and then he walked West on Mitchell from S. Chávez Drive and fired multiple shots, and he then walked back to Chávez Drive as he was being video recorded from inside a vehicle at the corner. (Facebook video link: https://tinyurl.com/295r4dz8)

No one was reported injured. According to other individuals at the scene, a group of small motor bikes had gathered at the intersection and were burning rubber as police were about a block away.

Earlier, police had closed all 5 side streets between W. Greenfield Ave. to W. National Ave. along S. Chávez Drive at 6:00 p.m. and prohibited taco food trucks and vehicles from parking along Chávez Drive to avoid a gathering of Cinco de Mayo 2024 impromptu chaotic flag waving parading and cruising celebrations.

But a brawl broke out at S. Chávez Drive and W. Scott Street in the afternoon in front of McDonald's. Police were able to respond quickly. https://tinyurl.com/k8p624r4

Several incidents occurred at Mitchell Park, a crowd gathered and multiple Black men taunted a paletero (Mexican popsicle seller), one of the men took the popsicle cart and dumped it on the parking lot. The second incident, Milwaukee County Sheriff deputies arrested two Black men and one had a loaded short AK-15 pistol on his waistband.  

A reward of $500 is being offered by Rafael Hernández and Adriana Bungee Hernández for information leading to the individual who tipped the paletero cart at Mitchell Park.

https://tinyurl.com/2yak55wr 

Hernández told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that shortly after posting the reward on social media, he received multiple responses that identified Aaron Thompson, 26, as the suspect who intentionally tipped the paletero cart.

On Friday and Saturday, all of the businesses along the S. César E. Chávez Drive including 7 taco food trucks failed to generate an estimated $512K of business sales compared to 2023 on the same Cinco de Mayo weekend.

This year, the impromptu flag waving parading and cruising crowds moved to the intersection of S. Chávez Drive and W. Historic Mitchell Street.

A business owner along S. Chávez Drive after hearing about the recent shooting, claimed that Milwaukee police only succeeded in criminalizing the S. Chávez Drive Bid 38 corridor and kept customers from shopping and patronizing the area.

Last year, several shootings were reported at a impromptu chaotic flag waving parading and cruising gathering at S. Chávez Drive and W. Scott Street, which a 17-year-old male was shot by police, arrested, charged with a felony and convicted.

Update: On Sunday, May 5, 2024 around 10:52 p.m., a Milwaukee police officer was reported shot thru the upper leg at S. Chávez Drive and W. Scott Street in the Southside of Milwaukee. A tourniquet was applied and he is expected to survive.

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

Donations accepted/ se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

Milwaukee Hit-and-run Deceased Victims Identified As Ausberto Gutiérrez, 41, And Maycol Gutiérrez, 39, From Nicaragua

Two Nicaraguan brothers ages 41 and 39 killed in hit-and-run at the 1900 block of W. Lincoln Ave. in the Southside of Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 5, 2024

Milwaukee,  Wisconsin- On early Sinday, May 5, 2024, at around 2:45 a.m., Milwaukee police responded to the 1900 block of W. Lincoln Ave. and located two injured Hispanic men who were pronounced deceased at the scene by the Milwaukee Medical Examiner's Office.

The victims were identified as Ausberto Gutiérrez, 41, aka, "Beto Ausberton" and Maycol Gutiérrez, 39, two brothers from Nicaragua, according to a source that wants to remain anonymous. Ausberto is survived by two young daughters.

According to police a vehicle heading Eastbound on W. Lincoln struck both the Gutiérrez brothers who were standing or walking by a parked vehicle, several other people were also inside the parked vehicle, which was also struck. The unidentified hit-and-run driver of the vehicle did not stop and fled the scene.

Police investigating the hit-and-run deaths recovered nearby video surveillance camera footage in the area showing a White SUV heading Eastbound on W. Lincoln Ave. with damage to the front passenger's side of the SUV and a broken left headlight.

Milwaukee police continue to search for a White Chevrolet Traverse SUV year model between 2013-2017 in connection with a fatal hit-and-run at the 1900 block of W. Lincoln Ave. on Sunday.

Apparently, the Gutiérrez brothers had just arrived at their destination (residence) by a woman who gave them a ride and they were saying goodbye to her and giving her some money for the ride, when the White SUV driver fatally struck them.

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

Donations accepted/ se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

S. César E. Chávez Drive Business Corridor Failed To Generate More Than $512K In Two Days During Cinco De Mayo 2024 Due To Street Closures By Milwaukee Police

More than 48 businesses and 7 Taco food trucks along S. Chavez Dr. between W. National Ave. and W. Greenfield Ave. failed to generated more than $512K of business in two days compared to prior Cinco de Mayo weekend observance.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 5, 2024

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Saturday, Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) learned that the S. César E. Chávez Drive business corridor between W. National Ave. and W. Greenfield Ave. was prevented by the Milwaukee Police Department District Station 2 from generating more than $512K, after no parking restrictions along S. Chávez Drive went into effect Friday and Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to late at night, compare to prior Cinco de Mayo weekend sales.

Milwaukee police kept the Northbound and Southbound lanes of S. Chávez Drive opened, but vehicles including 7 taco food trucks were not allowed to park along Chávez Drive, some businesses closed their patking lots too, to prevent excess parking to impromptu flag waving vehicles and Cinco de Mayo revelers. Also, 5 streets going either Westbound or Eastbound between W. Greenfield to W. National were closed for through traffic into S. Chávez Dtive. The taco food trucks had to move to the side streets before 6:00 p.m. when no parking restrictions went into effect.

Since, the 5 streets, W. Madison, W. Scott, W. Washington, W. Mineral and W. Walker had no access to S. Chávez Drive, most vehicles could not park so customers could patronize any of the taco food trucks for two days.

On Sunday, May 5, 2024, the same parking restrictions and street closures from Friday and Saturday will continue.  

More than 20,000 vehicles drive through Chávez Dr. per day and more than 147,000 per week during the year.

In one day, consumers in the 53204 zipcode spent approximately $249,315.06. The biggest tax-generating base for the city comes solely from the Southside compared to other districts.

A 2006 city economic study reported that the Southside households in the predominately Latino community located inside Postal Zip Code 53204 in Milwaukee spent more than $91 million annually in retail goods, according to the Department of City Development statistics.

Milwaukee police decided to add no parking restrictions along S. Chávez Drive over the Cinco de Mayo anticipated annual impromptu chaotic flag waving parading and cruising celebrations. Well, as one business owner along Chávez Drive told HNNUSA, police managed to portray (criminalize) S. Chávez Drive as an alleged crime ridden area by closing streets in between from S. Greenfield to W. National Avenues. after 6:00 p.m., they kept businesses in Chávez Drive from generating business sales during a community Cinco de Mayo festive weekend.

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

Donations accepted/ se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) And His Wife, Imelda Cuellar Facing More Than 200 Years Each In Prison For Bribery, Unlawful Foreign Influence, And Money Laundering Schemes

U.S. Representative Cuellar and his wife, Imelda Cuellar charged with multiple criminal federal charges, if convicted, they face more than 200 years each in a federal prison.

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 4, 2024

Laredo, Texas - On Friday, a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested both U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and his wife Imelda Cuellar for bribery and money laundering. The federal indictment was announced by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division; Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division; Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division; and Deputy Assistant Inspector General Jason Loeffler and Special Agent in Charge Chris Hileman of the Department of State Office of Inspector General (DOS-OIG).

According to the federal indictment, Congressman Cuellar allegedly accepted $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities in exchange for official acts as a member of congress. The indictment was unsealed Friday in the Southern District of Texas charging U.S. Congressman Enrique Roberto "Henry" Cuellar, 68, and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, 67, both of Laredo, Texas, with participating in two schemes involving bribery, unlawful foreign influence, and money laundering. Congressman Cuellar and Imelda Cuellar made their initial court appearance on Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo in Houston.

According to court documents, beginning in at least December 2014 and continuing through at least November 2021, Congressman Cuellar and Imelda Cuellar allegedly accepted approximately $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities: an oil and gas company wholly owned and controlled by the Government of Azerbaijan, and a bank headquartered in Mexico City. The bribe payments were allegedly laundered, pursuant to sham consulting contracts, through a series of front companies and middlemen into shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar, who performed little to no legitimate work under the contracts. In exchange for the bribes paid by the Azerbaijani oil and gas company, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to use his office to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan. In exchange for the bribes paid by the Mexican bank, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to influence legislative activity and to advise and pressure high-ranking U.S. Executive Branch officials regarding measures beneficial to the bank. 

Congressman Cuellar and Imelda Cuellar are each charged with the following offenses and if convicted, face maximum penalties as indicated: two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal official and to have a public official act as an agent of a foreign principal, five years in prison on each count; two counts of bribery of a federal official, 15 years in prison on each count; two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, 20 years in prison on each count; two counts of violating the ban on public officials acting as agents of a foreign principal, two years in prison on each count; one count of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering, 20 years in prison; and five counts of money laundering, 20 years in prison on each count.

The FBI and DOS-OIG investigated the case.

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

Donations accepted/ se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

S. Chávez Drive Parking Restrictions Go Into Effect To Avoid Chaotic Crowds During Cinco de Mayo 2024 Impromptu Flag Waving And Cruising Celebrations In The Southside Of Milwaukee

Special Events parking restrictions starting at 6:00 p.m. along S. César E. Chávez Drive not being enforced by MPD and City parking checkers during Cinco de Mayo 2024 anticipated chaotic impromptu flag waving parading and cruising over the weekend.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 3, 2024

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Under the direction of the Milwaukee Police Department District Station 2, a Special Events parking prohibition signs along S. César E. Chávez Drive between W. National Ave. and W. Greenfield Ave. in the Southside of Milwaukee.

El Supermercado El Rey, 900 block of S. Chávez Drive at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2024 closed its entrance to their parking lot from S. Chávez Drive and will close the entire parking after 8:00 p.m. and no vehicles will allowed to park without authorization.

The Foodmart associated with El Rey at the 1300 block of W. Burnham St. is also expected to close its parking lot as well.

So far, it appears that no parking restrictions are being enforced at 6:00 p.m. by MPD or City of Milwaukee Parking Enforcement Officers. Citations for parking at Special Events designated areas, the fines can vary from $200 to $500 and vehicles will be towed at owners expense.

Police and City Parking Enforcement Officers just before 8:00 p.m. began to enforce the no parking restrictions along S. Chávez Drive and cited vehicles that remained on Chávez Drive after the restrictions went into effect. The no parking restrictions are in effect until Sunday.

At the 1200 block of W. Historic Mitchell Street, several businesses were displaying Mexican flags for sale. But, not to much activity of vehicles displaying the Mexican flag reported in early afternoon.

A business owner along the S. Chávez Drive corridor says, that this year the business is expected to lose up to $7,000 per day, if the S. Chávez Drive is shut down in anticipation of the annual chaotic Cinco de Mayo impromptu flag waving parading and cruising in the Southside. If police shut down S. Chávez  this weekend after 6:00 p.m., only walk-in pedestrians will be allowed on S. Chávez Drive until the street is reopened.

Last year during the Cinco de Mayo 2023 impromptu flag waving parading and cruising, several shooters were shot and one 17-year-old male was taken into custody, Charged and convicted of a felony. Full article: https://tinyurl.com/2vwkdywk

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

Donations accepted/ se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t