Inside The Story Of Jorge ‘Rivi’ Ayala, The ‘Cocaine Cowboy’ Who Was Griselda Blanco’s Best Hitman

Jorge Ayala-Rivera, widely known as "Rivi", was notorious as a Colombian felon primarily for his role as a contract killer under the command of Griselda Blanco, the leader of the Medellín Cartel. Following his conviction in 1993, Ayala received a life sentence with a possibility of parole after 25 years.

His parole requests have not been granted. He is currently serving 31 years of his life sentence in Suwannee Correctional Institution in the Florida town of Live Oak.

The Beginning

Born in Cali, Colombia, Jorge Ayala spent his early years in Chicago. He was born with a unique, high-pitched voice.

He initially pursued a career as an automotive mechanic when he was living in Chicago. His father worked as a mechanic at General Motors, and he wanted to follow in his footsteps.

However, he eventually deviated from the lawful path and became involved in illicit activities, specifically engaging in car theft for chop shops scattered throughout the city. In addition to these criminal activities, Ayala supplemented his earnings by facilitating the unlawful entry of undocumented Mexican immigrants into the United States.

In 1979, Ayala transported used firearms from Chicago to Miami. However, when he reached Miami, he decided to settle in the area. In Miami, Ayala started working as an enforcer, someone responsible for coercing and intimidating people who were indebted to others.

Blanco and the Medellín Cartel

Not long, he attracted the attention of Griselda Blanco who employed him to become her primary enforcer. He fascinated her criminal operations.

Leading a compact team, Ayala skillfully orchestrated a range of illicit activities. Notably, Ayala's brother, Alonso Ayala, also served as a hitman under Blanco's command.

In 1993, Ayala pleaded guilty to three charges of homicide, yet it was widely suspected that he was responsible for approximately thirty additional killings that occurred at the time of the Miami Drug War.

In 1982, under the command of Griselda Blanco, Ayala received an order to assassinate Jesus "Chucho" Castro, a former enforcer associated with Blanco. According to Miami police homicide detective George Cadavid, Blanco desired Castro's demise as he had been contracted to safeguard a drug supplier but refused to comply with an undisclosed directive. However, Ayala asserts that Blanco sought Castro's elimination due to an offense committed against one of her sons.

On February 6 of that same year, an assassination plot targeting Castro unfolded. Ayala, accompanied by Miguelito Perez, approached Castro's vehicle as it halted at a red traffic signal and carried out a drive-by shooting using a silenced machine gun.

Tragically, the bullets missed their intended target, Castro, but inadvertently claimed the life of his two-year-old son, Johnny, who unbeknownst to Ayala and Perez, was present in the car alongside his father. Ayala faced charges for the murder of Castro's son, with the legal proceedings commencing in August 1988.

In compliance with Griselda Blanco's directives, Ayala and his team carried out the murder of Alfredo and Grizel Lorenzo, a married couple involved in drug dealing, in their residence in South Miami on May 26, 1982. The motive behind their killings appeared to stem from the couple's failure to compensate Blanco for a cocaine shipment they had received. Ayala reported that Blanco initially instructed the elimination of everyone present in the house, but he took precautions to ensure the safety of Alfredo and Grizel Lorenzo's children, sparing them from harm.

Arrest

Following a Chicago bank robbery, in 1993, Jorge Ayala was apprehended by law enforcement. Concurrently, authorities were actively pursuing Griselda Blanco's foremost assassin, known then as "Riverita."

Shortly after Ayala's arrest, authorities discovered that he was the elusive hitman they had been diligently seeking.

Ayala struck a deal with the Florida district attorney's office, agreeing to provide testimony against Griselda Blanco, who was facing charges related to three counts of first-degree murder. However, the case eventually fell apart and was ultimately dismissed due to Ayala's involvement in a phone sex scandal with two secretaries employed at the state's attorney's office.

In 1993, Ayala entered a guilty plea for three counts of murder, resulting in a life sentence with the potential for parole after 25 years. Should Ayala be granted parole, he will face deportation to Colombia.

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