The DTO
The Drug Trafficking Organization Behind the Rossana Delgado Murder
This post provides background on the drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for the 2021 murder of Rossana Delgado. The murder was carried out as part of a larger RICO conspiracy involving methamphetamine distribution in north Georgia.
Overview
The group was a Georgia-based DTO with direct connections to a Mexican cartel. It primarily distributed methamphetamine and reportedly used a prison-based “broker” system to coordinate supply and payments.
Key Details
- Operated across multiple north Georgia counties, including Barrow, DeKalb, Clayton, and Gilmer.
- Used violence and intimidation to maintain control and punish perceived betrayals or debts.
- The Delgado murder appears to have stemmed from internal DTO business — specifically a collapsed relationship with a prison drug broker.
Major Indictments and Convictions
In February 2022, a Gilmer County grand jury indicted 14 individuals on charges including malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, aggravated battery, concealing death, removal of body parts, and multiple RICO violations.
Notable Convictions
Edwin Murillo, identified as the ringleader, pleaded guilty in September 2023 and received a life sentence. Several other defendants also received life sentences or long prison terms.
Still at Large (2026)
Three individuals remain fugitives with active warrants:
- Mario Alberto Barbosa-Juarez
- Carolina Jazmin Rodriguez Ramirez
- Maria Katherine Encarnacion