Suspected Mexican Mafia member arrested in Phoenix murder

Steven Benavidez, who authorities say is linked to the Mexican mafia, is behind bars on suspicion of killing Erasmo Ledezma and possession of drug paraphernalia, authorities said.

Authorities say witnesses led investigators to believe that Benavidez and other Mexican Mafia members are associated with Ledezma’s death after Ledezma did not pay his share to gang members. The Mexican Mafia is a documented prison gang that taxes individuals to get money and support, according to Superior Court documents.

On Nov. 22, Phoenix fire fighters found Ledezma dead outside a business from gunshot wounds near the 4000 block of East Madison Street in Phoenix about 9:50 p.m.

Investigators found that the Mexican Mafia members were searching for Ledezma because they thought he leaked information to police about a recent arrest, court documents show. The gang members were also collecting taxes from Ledezma and it was time for him to pay up, officials say.

Benavidez and other Mexican Mafia members sought out the location where Ledezma lived through witnesses who knew him. Several witnesses were pressured to locate Ledezma or their lives would be threatened, court documents show.

Benavidez was arrested Friday on suspicion of first-degree murder, assisting in a criminal and lead gang, possession of drugs, misconduct involving weapons, possession and sale of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

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