‘El Mochaorejas’ Acquitted in One Kidnapping Case, But Notorious Criminal Remains Behind Bars
MEXICO CITY, January 26, 2026 – Daniel Arizmendi López, the kidnapper known as “El Mochaorejas” whose brutal crimes terrorized Mexico in the 1990s, was acquitted of one specific kidnapping charge last month. However, the 67-year-old will not be released from prison, where he has spent the last 27 years serving multiple lengthy sentences for organized crime, murder, and other kidnappings.
Recent Legal Ruling
On December 24, 2025, Judge Raquel Ivette Duarte Cedillo of the Second District Court in Penal Matters in the State of Mexico issued an acquittal for Arizmendi in a case of illegal deprivation of liberty (kidnapping). The judge determined that the evidence presented by the then-Attorney General’s Office (PGR) was insufficient to prove his direct responsibility in that specific instance. For the related charge of organized crime, she imposed a sentence of eight years in prison, a penalty considered already served due to his time incarcerated. Despite this legal victory in a single case, Arizmendi faces numerous other convictions that will keep him imprisoned indefinitely.
The Reign of ‘The Ear Chopper’
Daniel Arizmendi López, born July 22, 1958, in Miacatlán, Morelos, became one of Mexico’s most feared criminals between 1995 and 1998. His nickname, “El Mochaorejas” (The Ear Chopper), originated from his signature method of pressuring victims’ families: he would sever part of a hostage’s ear with poultry shears and send it to relatives to expedite ransom payments. His gang, which included family members like his brother Aurelio and his wife, specifically targeted high-net-worth individuals, operating in Mexico State, Mexico City, Querétaro, and Puebla.
Authorities attributed between 40 and 200 kidnappings to his organization during its brief but violent reign. Arizmendi himself confessed to 21 kidnappings and several murders, displaying a chilling lack of remorse in televised interviews after his capture. He claimed his motivation was the thrill of the challenge, not just the money. His criminal career began after a brief, two-month stint as a judicial police officer in Morelos, where he learned vehicle theft before transitioning to kidnapping.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Daniel Arizmendi López |
| Notable Alias | “El Mochaorejas” (The Ear Chopper) |
| Active Period | 1995 – 1998 |
| Arrest Date | August 17, 1998 |
| Estimated Ransom Profits | 100 – 150 million pesos (approx. $20 million USD at the time) |
| Total Sentences (Combined) | Hundreds of years (e.g., 393 years), capped by Mexican law |
| Recent Legal Update | Acquitted of one kidnapping charge on December 24, 2025. Remains imprisoned on other convictions. |
| Time Served (as of Jan 2026) | Over 27 years |
Legacy and Cultural Impact
The story of Daniel and Aurelio Arizmendi served as the inspiration for the fictional Sánchez brothers in the 2004 film Man on Fire, starring Denzel Washington. The character Daniel “La Voz” Sánchez shares Arizmendi’s devotion to Santa Muerte. His case remains a dark symbol of the kidnapping epidemic and systemic corruption that plagued Mexico in the 1990s, with his methods representing an extreme of cruelty designed to instill terror and ensure payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn’t Daniel Arizmendi being released after his acquittal?
The December 2025 acquittal pertained to only one specific kidnapping charge. Arizmendi has been convicted and sentenced in numerous other cases for crimes including organized crime, multiple kidnappings, homicide, and weapons possession. These other sentences, which collectively amount to hundreds of years in prison, remain in effect, ensuring his continued incarceration.
How did he get the nickname “El Mochaorejas”?
He earned the nickname “The Ear Chopper” because he routinely mutilated his kidnapping victims by cutting off a piece of their ear cartilage using tools like poultry shears. He would then send the severed tissue to the victim’s family to pressure them into paying the ransom quickly.