Ulises Pinto Madera, known colloquially as “El Pinto” or “El Mamado”, has recently been thrust into the spotlight as a key figure within the crime syndicate known as La Barredora. He was apprehended on July 23, 2025, in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jalisco, and has since gained notoriety as the presumed second-in-command of the criminal organization.
Not long after his arrest, Pinto successfully obtained a judicial injunction aimed at securing his rights while in custody. This granting was overseen by the First District Court in Criminal Matters of Mexico, which stipulated precautionary measures designed to prevent any abuse, such as isolation or mistreatment, during his detention.
According to court documents, the injunction addresses multiple concerns surrounding his detention, including fears of isolation and mistreatment. The court emphasized these issues while notifying the Public Ministry: “From the integral reading of the demand, it is noted that the claimed acts consist of torture, inhuman treatment, and ill-treatment. Plan suspension with respect to the claimed acts was acknowledged,” stated a representative from the court.
The apprehension was conducted by a joint task force involving the Marina Secretariat (Semar), the Mexican Army, the National Guard (GN), the Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), and the National Intelligence Center (CNI). He was detained alongside his bodyguard, Jaime Gómez Delgado, without resistance and without any visible weapons.
After their capture, official sources indicated that Pinto was airlifted from Jalisco to Mexico City and transported directly to the facilities of the Specialized Prosecutor for Organized Crime (FEMDO), where he currently remains pending formal judicial hearings.
Pinto’s professional background includes serving as a police officer in Tabasco, where he became the head of escorts and an operative closely associated with Hernán Bermúdez Requena, the former Secretary of State Security. Together, they established a criminal entity known as “The Brotherhood” or “Police Cartel”, which infiltrated various governmental bodies to facilitate numerous illegal enterprises, including extortion, human trafficking, and drug-related crimes.
As a leader in organized crime, Pinto assumed responsibility for recruiting and coordinating enforcers to operate in strategically vital municipalities such as Cárdenas, Paraíso, and Villahermosa. His actions contributed to the consolidation of a Protection and Violence Network controlling extensive territories in southeastern Mexico.
In 2023, following a split from Bermúdez Requena, Pinto founded his own criminal entity, La Barredora, with support from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Since that time, he has been associated with a significant increase in crime and violence in Tabasco, Veracruz, Campeche, and Jalisco.
Federal authorities have indicated multiple charges against Pinto, highlighting his involvement in serious criminal activities, including:
- Drug trafficking
- Extortion
- Human trafficking and sexual exploitation
- Theft of hydrocarbons
- Forced disappearances and homicides
- Control over bars and clubs
In summary, Pinto Madera is implicated in numerous disappearances and executions, many of which feature signs of torture and messages linked to La Barredora. Furthermore, he has amassed considerable wealth from illicit activities, marked by possession of luxury cars and real estate in areas like Zapopan, Guadalajara, Paraíso, and Veracruz.