Margarito “Jay” Flores Jr. defied all odds by rising to the summit of the world’s drug trafficking realm.
From flipping burgers at a McDonald’s in Chicago’s Little Village, he transitioned into the trusted confidant of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the notorious Sinaloa cartel kingpin.
On the other side of this narrative is Saul Rodriguez, a man once at the helm of a robbery and kidnapping crew in Chicago, operating in collusion with a corrupt police officer.
Their worlds collided in 2003 when Rodriguez kidnapped Pedro Flores, Margarito’s twin brother.
To secure Pedro’s release, Margarito paid a ransom in the form of cocaine, valued at over $2.4 million, deepening his ties to the criminal underworld.
In a remarkable twist, Margarito Flores recently reached out to Rodriguez in prison, extending forgiveness for past grievances.
Having cooperated with law enforcement after their arrest, the Flores twins have successfully shed their criminal past, both now walking free after serving 14-year sentences for their roles in one of the largest drug trafficking operations in United States history.
Both brothers’ wives also faced incarceration for their involvement in spending and hiding their husbands’ illicit proceeds.
The women, who chronicled their experiences in the book “Cartel Wives,” have since been released.
Rodriguez, now 49, is serving a 40-year sentence in a federal prison in Minnesota, having spent 16 years behind bars for leading a kidnapping crew, which prosecutors say was linked to at least three homicides.
In his attempts to reduce his sentence, Rodriguez is currently advocating for an early release under the federal First Step Act—a law signed by President Donald Trump in 2018, allowing those convicted under previous federal drug laws to petition for compassionate release.
Both Rodriguez and Flores claim to have had transformative religious experiences while incarcerated.
In a letter to the presiding judge, Margarito Flores expressed, “I felt true freedom when I gave my life to Jesus Christ.”
Flores has since founded an organization named Kingpin to Educator, providing seminars to law enforcement agencies on drug trafficking and its prevention.
He has also taken his message to universities, churches, and juvenile detention centers.
In correspondence with the Chicago Sun-Times, Flores elaborated on his life post-incarceration, stating, “I’m grateful for the law enforcement and agencies who’ve supported me along the way.”
Despite facing resistance in some quarters, he remains committed to sharing his insights with those willing to listen.
Reflecting on the impact Rodriguez had on his life and family, Flores remarked, “Although Saul caused real harm, not just to me and my brother, but to my wife and family, we never operated out of hate.
Forgiveness wasn’t something that happened overnight; it was a process rooted in accountability, healing, and growth.”
Flores clarified that he is not in a federal witness protection program, stating that he travels nationally, collaborating with law enforcement as a consultant and educator.
During Rodriguez’s sentencing in 2015, he informed Judge Joan Gotschall of his newfound faith and aspirations of becoming an ordained minister while incarcerated.
He expressed, “I do not want to do bad no more,” in an emotional plea to the court.
Now, in seeking an early release, Rodriguez has claimed the title of “doctor of ministry,” having achieved this distinction last summer.
His petition for clemency includes letters from correctional officers who vouch for his reform, one noting that he has become “a changed man.”
Another officer supported Rodriguez’s appeal, asserting he would be a suitable candidate for early release.
In Margarito Flores’s correspondence to the court, he indicated, “His story, like mine, could be used as a powerful tool to prevent others from following a destructive path.”
Flores emphasized a desire to involve Rodriguez in his programs, where Rodriguez’s testimony could serve as a significant influence on others.
Rodriguez’s petition details various health issues that he believes would be better treated outside prison.
Furthermore, Glenn Lewellen, a former Chicago police officer who had partnered with Rodriguez, was found guilty in the same trial.
In 2020, Lewellen received a compassionate release under the First Step Act, citing risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite opposition from prosecutors, who labeled him the “CEO and guardian angel” of the kidnapping crew, the judge determined that he had made significant strides in personal and spiritual rehabilitation.
The unfolding of these intertwined lives underscores themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the possibility of change, even amidst a backdrop of violence and crime.
image source from：chicago
