Mexican Mafia gang member arrested after Sedalia burglary

A burglary at a Sedalia home ended with the arrest of a man identified as a Mexican Mafia gang member out of Houston, Texas.

Sedalia police officers were called to a scene for shots fired. Officers talked with the caller and eventually found out that there was a burglary on the 300 block of South Grand Ave. The victim said that he was on this couch watching music videos when the suspect tried to get into his home. The front door was broken, and the victim said it happened when he struggled to keep the door closed during the burglary.

The victim looked outside and saw a Hispanic man with a shaved head pull a gun out of his jacket.

Sedalia police officers saw a Hispanic man walking north on Grand Ave. According to the probable cause statement, officers were giving the suspect commands, but he was not listening. Police saw a gun on the suspect and took him to the ground, where the suspect continued to struggle with officers.

The man was identified as Rene Esparza. Esparza is a convicted felon and was also identified as a Mexican Mafia gang member through a law enforcement database. The gun Esparaza had was reported stolen out of Sedalia.

Esparza was charged with burglary, armed criminal action, stealing a firearm/explosive Weapon/ammonium nitrate, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon and resisting arrest.

He’s being held in the Pettis County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

Since 2013, authorities have arrested three men with either confirmed ties or who claimed to be a part of the Mexican Mafia.

A detective with the Sedalia Police Department said it had no information on the gang and referred ABC 17 News to federal authorities. ABC 17 News reached out to both the FBI bureaus in Houston and Kansas City for more information on Esparza and the Mexican Mafia.

A spokesperson for Houston bureau said it could not comment on another agency’s arrest. No further information on the gang was provided by either bureau.