By: Melissa Gundersen
EL PASO, Texas -- A reputed Barrio Azteca Gang member was found guilt of capital murder Friday for shooting a teen to death during a drug deal in 2010.

It took jurors less than one hour to reach their verdict, convicting Fidencio Valdez of capital murder for the shooting death of Julio Barrios on Dec. 10, 2010 in northeast El Paso.

Valdez was also found guilty of two counts of aggravated assault for shooting at a nearby car.

While Valdez was seen smiling earlier in the day, he kept a straight face as the judge read the jury's verdict. Valdez could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty for the conviction.

During closing arguments Friday morning, prosecuting attorney Denise Butterworth asked jurors to find Valdez guilty of aggravated assault and capital murder.

Butterworth told jurors this is a capital murder case since there is a murder and robbery committed simultaneously.

Prosecutors told jurors Valdez met Julio Barrios to buy $300 worth of ecstasy pills. Prosecutors claim this was a robbery since Valdez didn't have any money to pay for those drugs and had to borrow $5 earlier that day to buy gas.

Throughout this trial, multiple witnesses said Valdez first shot Barrios inside a white SUV where the drug deal was taking place. Witnesses said Valdez then dragged Barrios onto the street and shot him a second time.

Butterworth said with Barrios' DNA found in the SUV, along with phone recordings of Valdez speaking with his mother and friends,the prosecution proved its case. She said key evidence, though, was with phone records.

"We pinpoint that (Valdez's) cellphone through pinging cellphone towers during critical times," said Butterworth. "We ping him right around Tropicana Street during the time of the shooting."

Defense attorney Louis Lopez on the other hand asked jurors to consider the lesser charge of murder or manslaughter.

"Don't waste your time with the phone records," said Lopez. "Fidencio Valdez is involved in this murder -- plain and simple."

Lopez told jurors that prosecutors were sloppy, incomplete and selective with putting forth evidence. He claimed there is no robbery involved in this crime.

"Something bad happened between these two guys and Barrios got shot. That's it," said Lopez. "This is a drug deal gone bad. That's all it is."

Jurors will be back in court Monday morning for the punishment phase.