Disappearance of Federico Tobares

Federico Tobares
Born February 23, 1976
Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos, Argentina
Disappeared June 5, 2013 (aged 37)
Jalisco, Mexico
Status Missing for 5 years, 4 months and 12 days
Residence Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Nationality Argentine
Occupation Chef
Employer Jalisco New Generation Cartel (suspected)

On June 5, 2013, Argentine chef Federico Tobares disappeared while driving from Puerto Vallarta to Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. He was speaking on the phone with a friend and told her he was driving a vehicle for his boss to exchange for another. He has been missing ever since. Tobares had moved from Argentina to Mexico in 2009 to pursue a career as a chef specialized in Mexican cuisine. He worked at Hotelito Desconocido and Nudoki, a hotel and restaurant in Jalisco. According to investigators, these two businesses were owned by Gerardo González Valencia, a suspected drug lord of Los Cuinis, a branch of the Jalisco-based criminal group Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Mexican investigators suspect that Tobares was kidnapped by organized crime members after seeing something suspicious at his workplace. His family told investigators that Tobares was once taken to one of his boss' private islands to cook at an exclusive party, so they suspect he encountered problems there. While on the island, he was not allowed to leave for a few days and was prohibited from using his cellphone. Investigators also believe Tobares may have been kidnapped by a rival gang as part of a retaliation campaign against his employers. His car was located two weeks after his disappearance in Michoacán, but no traces of Tobares' whereabouts were identified.

Background

Carlos Federico Tobares was born in Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos, Argentina, on February 23, 1976.[1][lower-alpha 1] His parents were Carlos Tobares (father) and Ana María Surraco (mother).[3][4] He grew up in the Formosa Province and studied in Buenos Aires.[2] In Formosa, he met his wife Carolina Evans.[5] Among his circle of friends and family members, he was nicknamed "Fede" (short for Federico) and "Gordo" (Fatty).[lower-alpha 2] According to his friends, Tobares was passionate about cooking, and enjoyed travelling, going to the beach, and was a fan of association football team River Plate.[3][7]

In 2009, he decided to leave Argentina and relocate in Mexico after he found a job as a chef in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Tobares was particularly fond of Mexican cuisine.[8] In Jalisco, he worked as the main chef of Hotelito Desconocido, a luxurious boutique hotel in Tomatlán. He also worked at Nudoki Sushi Bar, an Asian restaurant in Puerto Vallarta.[lower-alpha 3] According to investigators, these two restaurants were owned by Gerardo González Valencia, a high-ranking leader of Los Cuinis, a branch of the Jalisco-based criminal group Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).[lower-alpha 4][10]

Tobares met Gerardo through a female Argentine dentist that lived in Mexico. Her husband had worked at Hotelito Desconocido, which was managed by Gerardo's wife Wendy Dalaithy Amaral Arévalo. Tobares first worked at Hotelito Desconocido, but Gerardo invited him to join Nudoki Sushi Bar, arguing he did not know about cuisine and that he would let him run the business. Gerardo reportedly offered to make Tobares his business partner.[10] By that time, Tobares had separated from his wife and was open to new work opportunities.[12] His family believes Gerardo did this to keep Tobares entertained and quiet from the CJNG's illicit activities.[10]

Disappearance

The last contact Tobares had with someone was at 12:32 p.m. on June 5, 2013, the day he disappeared.[13][14] He was speaking to Verónica Román, a friend from Argentina.[lower-alpha 5] While on the phone, Tobares explained that he was doing Gerardo a favor by driving a vehicle from Puerto Vallarta to Guadalajara and exchanging it for another of his boss' preference. He told Verónica that they were guiding him along the way, but said he did not know where he was, that he was scared, and that the whole situation seemed strange to him. That was the last thing Tobares said to Verónica.[10][16]

Tobares left Puerto Vallarta at 3 a.m., and at 8 a.m. he met a man named Rogelio ("Rocky"), an Argentine, in Guadalajara. After that he met with a Colombian national at a tobacco shop. Tobares was there until 12 p.m. and was seen exiting the store through the security cameras. He then phone called Verónica to explain what he was up to before disappearing. The family thinks that Gerardo set a trap for him.[10] On June 10, a co-worker and friend of Tobares went to the Mexican police to report his disappearance.[17] The report was made in both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.[18] Tobares became the first Argentine to disappear in Mexico.[19]

On June 19, police officers discovered the vehicle that Tobares' was driving in La Piedad, Michoacán, a city 165 kilometres (103 mi) east of Guadalajara and close to the border with the states of Jalisco and Guanajuato.[20][21] It had been abandoned in a neighborhood close to the city centre;[22] investigators said they did not find blood traces or signs of violence in the vehicle. They also stated that they could not find any evidence in the vehicle that could further clarify the case,[23] and said they were searching for his girlfriend to clarify what she knew about Tobares prior to his disappearance.[24]

Since the vehicle was found in Michoacán, state authorities there began to work with Jalisco officials to locate Tobares. The vehicle was kept in Michoacán jurisdiction.[22] On social media, Tobares' friends posted the pictures of the vehicle, a 2009 Dodge Caliber with San Luis Potosí state license plates. They stated that the vehicle was owned by a Colombian national, who was cited as owner of one of the restaurants where Tobares' worked.[15]

Investigation

Leads and possible motives

On June 14, 2013, Jalisco authorities confirmed that they were officially opening an investigation to locate Tobares.[lower-alpha 6][26] Argentine consular officials stated that they had filed a formal request to Jalisco authorities on June 10 and were collaborating with them.[27][28] Tobares' friends told officials that he was planning to visit Sayulita and Tepic, Nayarit.[26][29] Investigators in Mexico and Argentina discarded two leads that were initially thought plausible. They do not believe that Tobares purposely decided to cut ties with his family and friends to disappear on his own will.[30] Tobares was looking for a new job opportunity in Guadalajara (he had his passport and other legal documentation ready),[lower-alpha 7] which made investigators think that it was unlikely that Tobares would go into hiding or cut communication with those close to him.[15][31]

The other lead that was discarded was one that suggested that Tobares was kidnapped for ransom, mainly because his possible abductors have not reached out to his family for a payment. They kept an eye for any activity on Tobares' bank accounts to see if they were used after he went missing.[32] Investigators analyzed his latest activity on social media as well. His last activity was on Facebook, where Tobares made a profile picture change on May 28, a few days before he went missing.[33] Investigators believe that Tobares was probably hired as a cook by a drug lord for a party or event without him knowing who he was cooking for. At some point, investigators alleged, Tobares might have seen something suspicious that put him in danger, or might have had a problem with someone at those private events. In addition, investigators concluded that Tobares might have been a victim of gang retaliation. They allege that rival gang members might have kidnapped Tobares to send a message to his employers.[15]

His family stated that Tobares' enthusiasm for work went down a few months before he disappeared. He told his sister that he was scared, and one time he called her sobbing. In March 2013, he spoke to his sister and told her that he wanted to return to Argentina. They believe that Tobares was kidnapped because he might have seen something suspicious while on the job that his employers did not want him to see.[12] Tobares worked at Hotelito Desconocido and Nudoki Sushi Bar, but he was also a hired chef for private parties; his family told investigators that Tobares was sometimes taken by the CJNG, Tobares' last employer, to their private islands in western Mexico to cook for their exclusive events. He was not allowed to leave for a few days and was prohibited from using his cellphone while he was there.[10] His family believes that in one of those private parties, Tobares saw something suspicious and began asking third-parties to clarify what he saw. When the CJNG found out what he was doing, Gerardo reportedly threatened him and told him to ask those question to his face.[34] A week before his disappearance, Gerardo reportedly ordered Tobares to close down the Asian restaurant and fire all of the employees.[12]

Tobares was quite active on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and posted pictures and videos of his personal life, travels, and work activities on social media. He had trips to Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Nayarit, Guerrero, Mexico City, and Teotihuacán. In his pictures, he showed his work activities in hotels, upscale restaurants and yachts, and private parties. In 2011, Tobares posted a photo on his Facebook of a man washing the dishes with him in a restaurant's kitchen. The man was displaying a Colt Gold Cup .45 pistol tucked behind his pants. Several of his friends commented on the picture, and one advised him to be careful. In 2013, he posted a picture on his Instagram of a tattoo displaying a figure with a gas mask. In the description, Tobares stated that the tattoo was a gift from a "man who [was] of key importance in Culiacán, Sinaloa", but the text was part of a narcocorrido, a Mexican drug ballad.[lower-alpha 8][15] On YouTube, he posted videos of his travels through Jalisco's towns and highways.[36]

Aftermath

Reactions

A few days after his disappearance, the Embassy of Argentina, Mexico City issued a communiqué with details of Tobares' disappearance and giving the public the contact information of who they should reach out to if they discover any leads to his whereabouts. They stated that he was last seen in neighborhood Jardines del Bosque in Guadalajara, that he was 1.77 metres (5.8 ft) tall and approximately 82 kilograms (181 lb), has white skin, freckles, brown hair, and identifiable tattoos on his legs and shoulder. The Embassy stated that they were working with Jalisco's Ministry of Public Security, who were leading the investigation and keeping the Tobares family and consular authorities updated with any advancements in the case.[37]

On social media, family members and friends of Tobares created a Facebook page, "Encontremos A Federico Tobares" (English: Let's Find Federico Tobares), and regularly post updates of the investigation, images of Tobares' activities with his friends, and petitions to rally more people in the search.[38][39] They have also posted several videos online asking people to help locate Tobares.[40][41] On June 14, Tobares' cousin Liza Bearzotti, who also served as the family's spokesperson for the case, spoke to Canal 5 Noticias on national television in Argentina to bring the case to light.[42][43]

Case progressions

On June 21, Tobares' sister Ana Soledad travelled to Mexico to help investigators locate her brother.[44] She told the press she was working with Argentine ambassador Diego Alonso Garcés and the Mexican Federal Police on the case.[38] She told the press on June 23 that the family had reached out to a local National Human Rights Commission to carry out a "parallel" investigation since they wanted to prevent corruption from Mexican investigators.[45] On July 7, people in Guadalajara conducted a march for missing people in Jalisco that ended in the city's monument, La Minerva. Tobares' father thanked the organizers for carrying a photo of his son during the march.[38][46]

On July 10, Bearzotti stated that Jalisco authorities were "disinterested" and were moving slowly in the case. She stated that their investigators took several days to act on the leads the family gave to them, thus harming their possibilities to find Tobares since she believed that the first days of his disappearance were crucial for the investigation. Bearzotti told the press that Jalisco officials showed advancements in the case the way the family wanted to see a month later and after the Argentine and Mexican government pressured them to pick up the pace of the investigation.[47] Tobares' sister Ana Soledad said she was shocked about the kidnappings and disappearances in Mexico, and thanked officials at the municipal, state, and federal level who were working on the case.[48]

On August 19, 2015, the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 15 Mexican businesses, including Hotelito Desconocido, under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (also known as the Kingpin Act). According to the sanction, Hotelito Desconocido served as a money laundering front that provided financial and material assistance to Los Cuinis and their leader Abigael González Valencia (brother of Tobares' last employer Gerardo). All of Hotelito Desconocido's assets in the U.S. were frozen, and U.S. citizens were prohibited from engaging in business with this entity. The sanctioned also extended to six Mexican individuals linked to Los Cuinis.[49] That same day, federal agents from Mexico's Office of the General Prosecutor (PGR) confiscated Hotelito Desconocido and closed it down. This action was done following a formal request done through the Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit and by the exchange of information with U.S. officials.[50]

On April 21, 2016, Gerardo was arrested by the National Police of Uruguay in Montevideo, Uruguay. He was arrested following an extensive money laundering investigation between Latin American officials and the U.S. government that linked him to several shell companies he used to purchase assets in the Americas and overseas. This information was discovered in 2015 through the massive information leak known as the Panama Papers.[51][52] Following his arrest, Tobares' family spoke to the press and talked about the investigation. They said they encountered problems in Mexico when the Argentine consular authorities were rotated and new personnel took over the case.[10]

In an effort to continue their search, they tried to increase their activity on social media, but they said that some people (who they suspect worked for Gerardo) told them that Tobares was with them or that they had seen him alive in Mexico. Ana Soledad said she was told that Gerardo was once in Argentina and wanted to speak to her, but she refused. "We just want to know where he is so we can bring him home, with his people, with his friends he loved and loved him. We do not want to know who took him. We just want to know, even anonymously, where he is," she said.[10]

See also

Sources

Footnotes

  1. ↑ According to another source, he was born in the Formosa Province.[2]
  2. ↑ In Argentina, it is common for people to nickname individuals of larger complexion "Gordo" as a sign of affection.[6]
  3. ↑ Another source states that the Asian restaurant was Nudoki Pisco & Sake, owned by a Colombian businessman.[9]
  4. ↑ The source mentioned that Gerardo González Valencia was part of Los Cuinis.[10] This group is a branch of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.[11]
  5. ↑ Another source states Tobares was speaking to his girlfriend.[15]
  6. ↑ The reason why Jalisco authorities took the case before federal ones was because the disappearance report was issued with state authorities first.[25]
  7. ↑ Some of his friends stated he had an interview set up in Guadalajara. It is unknown who Tobares was planning to interview with.[16]
  8. ↑ Culiacán, Sinaloa, is often cited in narcocorridos given its historic importance in Mexican drug trafficking.[35]

References

  1. ↑ "Recordaron al chef Federico Tobares a dos años de su desaparición". Formosa Expres Diario (in Spanish). June 6, 2015. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "No encuentran al argentino que desapareció en México". Elentreríos (in Spanish). June 23, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  3. 1 2 Gleser, Claudio (June 24, 2013). "Dos argentinos desaparecidos, dos familias desesperadas". La Voz del Interior (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Buscan a chef entrerriano que desapareció en México". El Diario (in Spanish). June 14, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Buscan en México a Federico Tobares, argentino que vivió varios años en Formosa". Noticias Formosa (in Spanish). June 10, 2013. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017.
  6. ↑ Adams 2011, p. 68–70.
  7. ↑ "Desapareció un argentino en México pero parece que nadie lo busca, ¿dónde está Federico Tobares?". El Meme (in Spanish). December 17, 2015. Archived from the original on 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2017-04-28.
  8. ↑ "Padre de chef urge a autoridades a localizar a su hijo". Milenio Televisión (in Spanish). Grupo Multimedios. June 19, 2013.
  9. ↑ "No encuentran al argentino que desapareció en México". Elentreríos (in Spanish). June 23, 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Messi, Virginia (December 10, 2016). "El chef argentino que desapareció en manos del cartel de Los Cuinis". Clarín (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  11. ↑ Figueroa Alcántara, Héctor (May 24, 2015). "PGR asesta golpe a 'Los Cuinis', brazo financiero del Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación" (in Spanish). Excélsior. Archived from the original on July 30, 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 "La misteriosa desaparición de un chef argentino en Guadalajara". Todo Noticias (in Spanish). Clarín Group. April 21, 2017. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  13. ↑ "No encuentran al argentino desaparecido en México". Diario Uno Entre Ríos (in Spanish). June 24, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Buscan a un chef argentino desaparecido en México". Clarín (in Spanish). June 11, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Becerra Acosta, Juan Pablo (June 20, 2013). "Las 69 semanas en México del chef argentino secuestrado". Milenio (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  16. 1 2 Camacho, América (June 14, 2013). "'Estoy un poco perdido, no sé bien dónde estoy': Chef argentino". Un1ón Jalisco (in Spanish). El Universal (Mexico City). Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  17. ↑ Camacho, América (June 12, 2013). "Colega denunció desaparición de chef argentino en Jalisco". Un1ón Jalisco (in Spanish). El Universal (Mexico City). Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Chef argentino desaparecido en México". Univision (in Spanish). June 13, 2015. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017.
  19. ↑
    • Chouza, Paula (June 22, 2013). "La hermana del argentino desaparecido en México exige al Gobierno que actúe". El País (Spain) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
    • Gómez Leyva, Ciro; Becerra-Acosta, Juan Pablo (June 18, 2013). "Un chef, el primer argentino 'levantado' en Puerto Vallarta". Milenio TV (in Spanish). Grupo Multimedios.
    • Calderóm, Verónica (June 20, 2013). "Hallado el coche del argentino desaparecido en México". El País (Spain) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
    • "'No puede ser que nadie sepa nada de mi hermano'" (in Spanish). Grupo SIPSE. June 22, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  20. ↑ Zamorroni Martínez, Ulises (June 20, 2013). "Hallan en Michoacán auto de chef argentino desaparecido". El Universal (Mexico City) (in Spanish). Guadalajara, Jalisco. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Hallan camioneta, pero el chef argentino sigue desaparecido". La Voz del Interior (in Spanish). June 21, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  22. 1 2 "Hallan auto de chef argentino desaparecido en Jalisco". El Informador (Mexico) (in Spanish). June 20, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Encuentran auto de chef argentino desaparecido en México". Univision (in Spanish). June 21, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Hallan en La Piedad auto de chef argentino desaparecido en Vallarta". Radio Fórmula (in Spanish). June 19, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  25. ↑ "En México buscan a chef argentino desaparecido". CNN Expansión (in Spanish). June 15, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  26. 1 2 "Jalisco abre averiguación por desaparición de argentino". Hora Cero (in Spanish). June 14, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Denuncian desaparición de chef argentino en Jalisco". Diario 24 Horas (in Spanish). June 14, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  28. ↑ García, Carolina (June 14, 2013). "Destaca cónsul colaboración de PGJ para encontrar a argentino". El Universal (Mexico City) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Buscan a argentino desaparecido en Jalisco; destacan colaboración". El Informador (Mexico) (in Spanish). June 14, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Historias de narcos 'sazonan' desaparición de chef argentino en México" (in Spanish). Grupo SIPSE. June 21, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Reportan desaparición de argentino en Puerto Vallarta". El Universal (Mexico City) (in Spanish). June 14, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Descartan secuestro en desaparición de chef argentino". El Informador (Mexico) (in Spanish). June 24, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  33. ↑ Camacho, América (June 13, 2013). "De Argentina a México, redes buscan a chef argentino". Un1ón Jalisco (in Spanish). El Universal (Mexico City). Archived from the original on August 16, 2017.
  34. ↑ "El clan narco más rico del mundo pasó por Argentina e hizo negocios en Puerto Madero". Todo Noticias (in Spanish). Grupo Clarín. December 11, 2016. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  35. ↑ Polit Dueñas 2012, p. 1; 10–13; 97.
  36. ↑ Morán, Judith (June 16, 2013). "Chef argentino desaparecido: su bitácora por Jalisco". Un1ón Jalisco (in Spanish). El Universal (Mexico City). Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  37. ↑ "Desaparición del ciudadano argentino Federico Tobares" (in Spanish). Embassy of Argentina in Mexico City, Mexico, Government of Argentina. 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  38. 1 2 3 "Familiares siguen pista del chef argentino desaparecido en Jalisco". El Informador (Mexico) (in Spanish). July 8, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  39. ↑ Chouza, Paula (June 15, 2013). "Denuncian la desaparición de un chef argentino que vivía en México desde 2009". El País (Spain) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  40. ↑ "Buscan argentino desaparecido en Jalisco". Milenio TV (in Spanish). Grupo Multimedios. June 13, 2013.
  41. ↑ "Siguen buscando a chef argentino". TV Azteca (in Spanish). Grupo Salinas. November 22, 2013.
  42. ↑ "Buscan a un argentino desaparecido en México (Parte 1)". Canal 5 Noticias (in Spanish). June 14, 2013.
  43. ↑ "Buscan a un argentino desaparecido en México (Parte 2)". Canal 5 Noticias (in Spanish). June 14, 2013.
  44. ↑ "'No puede ser que no haya absolutamente nada': hermana de chef desaparecido". Milenio TV (in Spanish). Grupo Multimedios. June 21, 2013.
  45. ↑ Arroyo, Elda (June 23, 2013). "Familia del chef desaparecido hará investigación paralela". Milenio (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  46. ↑ G. Partida, Juan Carlos; Ferrer, Mauricio (July 22, 2013). "Van seis arraigados por presunto secuestro de jóvenes en Lagos de Moreno". La Jornada (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  47. ↑ Melchor, Everardo (July 10, 2013). "Familia de chef desaparecido pide celeridad en el caso". El Informador (Mexico) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  48. ↑ "Increíbles, desapariciones en México: hermana de chef argentino desaparecido". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). July 10, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  49. ↑ "Treasury Sanctions Business Network of the Los Cuinis Drug Trafficking Organization". United States Department of the Treasury. August 19, 2015. Archived from the original on August 22, 2015.
  50. ↑ "PGR asegura hotel boutique vinculado a Los Cuinis". Un1ón Jalisco (in Spanish). El Universal (Mexico City). August 19, 2015. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017.
  51. ↑ Hamilton, Martha M. (April 25, 2016). "Cartel-Linked Suspects Arrested After Panama Papers Revelations". International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Archived from the original on January 30, 2017.
  52. ↑ "Once detenidos en Uruguay por su vínculo con cartel mexicano" (in Spanish). El País (Uruguay). April 23, 2016. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016.

Bibliography

  • Adams, Fiona (2011). CultureShock!: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette. Argentina. Marshall Cavendish. p. 252. ISBN 0761460500.
  • Polit Dueñas, Gabriela (2012). Narrating Narcos: Culiacán and Medellín. University of Pittsburgh Press. p. 240. ISBN 0822979098.
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