John Jairo Velásquez

John Jairo Velásquez Vásquez (Born April 15, 1962) also known by the alias Popeye, is an ex-sicario (hitman)^[1] that was part of the criminal structure of the Medellin Cartel until his delivery to the Colombian justice system in 1992. Within this structure he was a lieutenant commanding half of the sicarios. He was one of the members of the inner circle of Pablo Escobar, the head of the criminal organization calling itself The Extraditables.^[2]

Jhon Jairo Velasquez Vasquez was born in the municipality of Yarumal, Antioquia. He was admitted to the Colombian National Army, later he joined the cadet school of the national police, only to retire days later, having not to found any satisfaction in this profession. Later, he entered the school of apprentices of the Colombian Navy where he earned his distinctive nickname ‘Popeye’ because of his physical resemblance to the character, which would later be removed by plastic surgery.

Studies

Velasquez attended night school. He entered the School of NCOs of the Colombian Navy, and eventually transferring to the Police Cadet School General Santander, where he spent one semester. Later in life while imprisoned he also obtained 14 diplomas of various short courses.

Criminal Career

Velasquez was identified as a top leader of the Medellin cartel hitmen by Colombian media, especially those focused on the capital Bogotá. He has confessed to 250 killings, the kidnapping of then candidate for mayor of Bogota, Andres Pastrana Arango (who would later become president of the republic), the kidnapping of Francisco Santos (who would later become vice president), kidnapping and murder of colombian politician Carlos Mauro Hoyos, complicity in the murder of the governor of Antioch Antonio Roldan Betancur in a failed mission entrusted to Popeye and John Jairo Arias Tascon, alias "Pinina" to kill police colonel department Valdemar Franklin Quintero and presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galan, and has also been implicated in the terrorist attack on Avianca flight 203.

Convictions

Since 1992, Velasquez served a prison sentence on charges of terrorism, drug trafficking, conspiracy for terrorist purposes and murder.^[3] However, despite the severity of his convictions, Colombia does not have capital punishment and the maximum sentence is of thirty years. During 2000 and 2001, Popeye was involved in armed clashes in La Modelo prison. In 2008, he was sentenced to twelve years for other judicial proceedings against him. On August 22, 2014 he would have received probation for having served three-fifths of his sentence, but as he is involved in other legal processes and investigations, probation would not be obtained. Nonetheless, he was released on August 26, 2014.

Personal life

According to Velasquez, he even killed his girlfriend after she was exposed as an informant. Escobar entrusted Velasquez with getting rid of said informant. In an interview, according to Popeye, Escobar was clear in his instructions, “you or her, do not hesitate a single second ... “^[4]

Today, Popeye is a YouTube personality who uploads videos, in which he critiques various topics in Colombia such as a corrupt government and socioeconomic hardships. As a result, as he states, this has made it much easier for him to reconcile the fact that he is a “bandido” (criminal) and not feel any remorse.

References