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California court rejects calls to reopen case of Mexican woman who helped gang lure two 'associates' of cartel who were kidnapped and beaten when she was a teenager

A 31-year-old woman convicted for her role in the 2007 kidnappings of two men linked to a Mexican cartel will continue to serve a life prison sentence after a California court rejected her appeal.

Lawyers on behalf of Nancy Mendoza filed a habeas corpus claim in June and called for a new trial due to the ineffectiveness of her former team of attorneys during her August 2013 court hearing in which she was sentenced to life in jail without the possibility of parole.

The Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District Division One ruled that 'a resentencing hearing does not constitute a new trial.'

Mendoza was just 19 years old at the time when she helped members of Los Palillos - a gang that was once linked to the Arellano-Félix Cartel - lure wealthy, high-profile men, including some who were associates of the same criminal organization. 

Nancy Mendoza is serving life in prison for her helping a gang in the San Diego area kidnap two men in 2007 who were reportedly linked to the Arellano-Félix Cartel. In June, a California appeals court rejected her petition for a new trial despite an argument from her defense team who claimed on her behalf that she had not received adequate support from her former lawyers

Nancy Mendoza is serving life in prison for her helping a gang in the San Diego area kidnap two men in 2007 who were reportedly linked to the Arellano-Félix Cartel. In June, a California appeals court rejected her petition for a new trial despite an argument from her defense team who claimed on her behalf that she had not received adequate support from her former lawyers

Nancy Mendoza was only 19 years old at the time she helped the Los Palillos gang abduct two men in San Diego. The victims, wealthy Mexican businessmen with alleged ties to the Arellano-Félix Cartel were beaten and held for ransom

Nancy Mendoza was only 19 years old at the time she helped the Los Palillos gang abduct two men in San Diego. The victims, wealthy Mexican businessmen with alleged ties to the Arellano-Félix Cartel were beaten and held for ransom

According to authorities, the gang was involved in a string of murders and abductions throughout San Diego County between 2004 and 2007. 

One of the victims, Jorge Garcia Vasquez, 58, met Mendoza at a San Diego-area 24-hour fitness center and convinced him to become her personal trainer. 

orge Garcia Vasquez, 58, met Mendoza at a San Diego-area 24-hour fitness center and convinced him to become her personal trainer.

While they were running an errand some time later, the gang members stopped them at a traffic signal and kidnapped Vasquez. He was later freed without being killed. 

But the kidnapping incident that eventually led to Mendoza's downfall involved Eduardo González-Tostado, a wealthy Mexican businessman and drug trafficker who had been cooperating with U.S. federal agents. 

She met González-Tostado in a Starbucks and asked him to come to her aunts house a few days later on June 8, 2007, according to the prosecution.

She met González-Tostado in a Starbucks and asked him to come to her aunts house a few days later on June 8, 2007, according to the prosecution.Nancy Mendoza was sentenced in August 2013 to life in prison without the chance for parole

Nancy Mendoza was sentenced in August 2013 to life in prison without the chance for parole

He arrived at the home with flowers and a bottle of brandy, but became suspicious when he spotted a vehicle slowly following him. Mendoza invited him inside the residence and was beaten moments later by five masked gunmen wearing police uniforms. The suspects turned out to be members of the Los Palillos.

He arrived at the home with flowers and a bottle of brandy, but became suspicious when he spotted a vehicle slowly following him. Mendoza invited him inside the residence and was beaten moments later by five masked gunmen wearing police uniforms. The suspects turned out to be members of the Los Palillos.

González-Tostado testified at her trial that she asked the kidnappers after they had bound and gagged him: 'Can I go home?' and 'What car should I take?' 

González-Tostado testified at her trial that she asked the kidnappers after they had bound and gagged him: 'Can I go home?' and 'What car should I take?' 

He was beaten up and stored in a pantry for eight days while gang members demanded $2million ransom money from his wife. 

He was beaten up and stored in a pantry for eight days while gang members demanded $2million ransom money from his wife. 

The gang members were caught when the family put a tracking device in with the suitcase containing $194,000 ransom. The five men were arrested by a SWAT team when the money was passed over.

The gang members were caught when the family put a tracking device in with the suitcase containing $194,000 ransom. The five men were arrested by a SWAT team when the money was passed over.

Moreno had long fled San Diego to Tijuana by the time the gang members were caught.

Moreno had long fled San Diego to Tijuana by the time the gang members were caught.

She was only arrested by Mexican authorities in August 2010 while she was working in a law office and was extradited to the U.S.

She was only arrested by Mexican authorities in August 2010 while she was working in a law office and was extradited to the U.S.

Two of the men were later convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.  

Two of the men were later convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

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