Can betrayal ever truly lead to redemption? For the Flores twins, Pedro and Margarito, their choices reshaped the landscape of drug trafficking, leading to the downfall of one of the world's most notorious kingpins, El Chapo, yet their story is one of complex consequences and enduring family turmoil.
The saga of the Flores twins is a chilling tale of ambition, betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of a life steeped in the drug trade. From their roots in Chicago's Little Village to becoming trusted emissaries of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmn Loera, their journey took a sharp turn in 2008 when they decided to cooperate with U.S. authorities. Secret recordings and other evidence they provided became instrumental in the Chicago indictments of Hernandez and ten others, including Guzmn himself, and, paradoxically, the Flores twins.
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Names | Pedro Flores, Margarito Flores Jr. |
| Nicknames | Pedro (Peter), Margarito Jr. (Junior) |
| Born | Chicago, Illinois |
| Age (as of 2023) | Approximately 48 years old |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Former Drug Traffickers, Informants |
| Criminal Activities | Cocaine Trafficking, Money Laundering |
| Associates | Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmn, Sinaloa Cartel |
| Legal Status | Convicted, Served Prison Time, Currently in Witness Protection |
| Wives | Valerie Gaytan (Margarito), Mia Flores (Pedro) - Both daughters of Chicago Police Officers |
| Key Role | Provided evidence that led to the arrest and conviction of El Chapo |
| Release From Prison | 2020 |
| Further Reading | U.S. Department of Justice Press Release |
The Flores twins admitted to importing approximately a ton of cocaine a month into the United States. Their arrest in Mexico in 2008 marked the beginning of their cooperation with U.S. authorities, a move motivated by the hope of receiving lighter sentences. The brothers, known within the cartel inner circles simply as "the twins," confessed to smuggling at least 1,500 kilograms of Sinaloa Cartel cocaine into the United States every month between 2005 and 2008. According to plea agreements, they sent over $930 million in bulk cash back to the cartel in Mexico. They smuggled billions of dollars worth of drugs into Mexico and faced life sentences without their cooperation.
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Before their downfall, the Flores twins were deeply entrenched in Chicago's drug scene. Margarito Flores's encounter with Chicago police while cruising through Humboldt Park in a brand new Cadillac on a fall evening, is just a snapshot of their brazen lifestyle. At that time, Flores, only 22, and his twin brother Pedro had already established a significant drug operation. Their network stretched across North America, importing tons of cocaine into cities like Chicago, New York, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Vancouver between 2005 and 2008.
However, even amidst the lucrative drug trade, the twins experienced personal turmoil. They came to believe that Saul Rodriguez, a man they considered a friend, was behind a kidnapping incident. They had known Rodriguez for a few years, and, ironically, at the time of Pedro Flores's uncertain journey, they had even planned to go with Rodriguez to Las Vegas to see a welterweight title match.
The lives of the Flores twins are intertwined with law enforcement in more ways than one. Both of their wives are daughters of Chicago police officers and grew up in the city. Valerie Gaytan, Margarito Floress wife, had previously been married to a leader of the Latin Kings gang. This intricate web of relationships further complicates the narrative of the Flores family.
Their decision to cooperate with federal authorities in 2008 led to what is arguably the biggest drug case ever brought in Chicago, targeting El Chapo and his organization. Charlie Webster, a renowned journalist and host of the successful "Surviving El Chapo" series, has extensively covered the Flores twins' involvement in the case. Webster, along with figures like 50 Cent, have brought attention to the twins' story and their role in dismantling a drug empire.
The Flores brothers, once Chicago's most notorious twins, raked in millions as El Chapo's emissaries before flipping on the boss and taking him down. The now-infamous Flores twins have faced significant family troubles in the wake of their decisions. In 2020, Pedro and Margarito Flores were released from prison and placed into witness protection. However, the repercussions of their actions continue to haunt their family.
After the Flores brothers' testimony put El Chapo behind bars for life, their wives found themselves embroiled in criminal activity. In a story reported by Chuck Goudie, Barb Markoff, and Christine Tressel on Friday, April 21, 2023, the consequences of the Flores' choices extended to their spouses. The twins older brother Armando Flores, who helped them break into the drug business three decades ago, has also pleaded guilty and faced sentencing. Armando Flores admitted to hiding $2.3 million of the twins drug proceeds under his back porch in Texas. He originally hid about $300,000 in a trailer he took across the border and in early 2009, he collected another $760,000 in drug cash from associates of the twins in Los Angeles, according to Erskine.
The Flores twins' actions reverberated through their entire family. The twins older brother Armando Flores, who helped them break into the drug business three decades ago, has also pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. Armando Flores, the brother of Margarito Flores and Pedro Flores, admitted hiding $2.3 million of the twins drug proceeds under his back porch in Texas. He got time served for the 19. Mia and Olivia Flores were branded as wives of the cartel figures, further entangling their identities with the criminal underworld.
Margarito Flores, the Chicago cocaine kingpin who helped bring down El Chapo, is set to share his insights with law enforcement. He will lead a seminar in Kane County, teaching cops how to catch drug traffickers. This move marks a unique turn of events, with one of the notorious Flores twins transitioning from criminal to informant and educator.
The Flores twins, Margarito Jr., nicknamed Junior, and Pedro, called Peter, were not even born when their pregnant mother witnessed their father being arrested in their Chicago home. This early exposure to the criminal justice system foreshadowed their future involvement in the drug trade. At 33 years old, Pedro and Margarito Flores cooperated with U.S. authorities against Mexican cartel leaders, including Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. They smuggled billions of dollars worth of drugs into Mexico and faced life sentences without their cooperation.
Following their guilty pleas, the Flores twins were sentenced in 2015 to 14 years in prison. After serving their time, they were released in 2020 and placed into witness protection. However, their past actions continued to cast a long shadow. A year later, their wives, brother, and two other relatives were charged, underscoring the enduring impact of their criminal enterprise.
In 2022, Jevon Phillips, a multiplatform editor, explored the complex dynamics of "The Flores Family." His work highlighted the challenges and tribulations faced by the family members of the infamous twins. The Flores twins spoke to the Tribune following the bombshell news Thursday that Ismael El Mayo Zambada had been arrested in Texas along with one of El Chapo's sons, Joaquin Guzmn Lpez.
The story of the Flores twins is a saga of ambition, betrayal, and consequences. Identical twins Jay and Pete Flores, who were once North Americas biggest drug traffickers and El Chapos right-hand men, turned themselves into the U.S. Government with the hopes of starting a new, safer life for their family. But after years of cooperating to get the world's most powerful drug kingpin behind bars, and finally gaining their freedom with a chance to start again, they face a future forever marked by their past. The twins' cooperation ultimately helped dismantle a powerful drug trafficking organization and led to El Chapo's imprisonment, but it came at a steep price for their family and their own sense of security.
Margarito Flores was cruising through Humboldt Park in a brand new Cadillac on a fall evening when Chicago police stopped him. At the time, Flores, 22, and his twin brother Pedro had built a drug. The flores twins spoke to the tribune following the bombshell news thursday that ismael el mayo zambada had been arrested in texas along with one of el chapo's sons, joaquin guzmn lpez.
The flores twins, pedro and margarito, made a lot of money as top lieutenants to mexican drug lord joaqun el chapo guzmn loera.
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