Anthony 'Chilli' Suarez-Santini is the former friend of Detective Joe Velasco.
History[]
He was from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, growing up to be a delinquent. He took a young Velasco under his wing and taught him to survive on the streets. At one point, Chilli killed several gangsters, acts that was witnessed by Velasco who was left unsure about the lifestyle because of the brutality. (SVU: "Blood Out") The pair lost contact, as Velasco later left the life behind and moved to New York and became a cop, while never telling anyone what he witnessed.
After opening an investigation into Velasco, he is forced to bring up that he didn't kill anyone and implicates Chilli. As a result, SVU Captain Olivia Benson tasks Velasco for an update on finding Chilli and that she wants him to find Chilli and bring him to justice. (SVU: "King of the Moon")
Benson tells Velasco that she has evidence of a woman in Maine sending Chilli money and that she wants him to drive up with Tonie Churlish to deal with this. While trying to locate Chilli, Velasco and Churlish have a discussion about Chilli. Later, Velasco and Churlish question Elle about why she is sending money to Mexico. Velasco believes the woman but Churlish doesn't and Velasco realizes that Chilli is a teacher. At Chilli's home, Velasco asks Elle if he could talk to Chilli but Elle wants him to leave. Chilli says that he has to talk to a friend as he has no choice. Chilli tells Velasco and Churlish that he doesn't like talking to the cops and Velasco wants him to talk to the scared kid back in Juarez before adding that he will never forget what Chilli did for him. (SVU: "Bubble Wrap")
Chilli tells Velasco that he was trying to put food on the table back when he was a kid and that he doesn't think about it much. Velasco and Chilli then talk about the murders and Velasco covering for Chilli, which he thanks him for. Velasco secretly records Chilli confessing to the murders. Velasco signals Churlish who pays and leaves as Velasco says he has nothing but time to more of Chilli's stories. Velasco then has doubts about arresting Chilli and calls Benson. Velasco then gets held at gunpoint by Elle who wants the recording of Chilli confessing to the murders. Elle knew that Chilli was running from something and believed he could change. Velasco refuses to give her the phone and apologizes and Elle puts the gun down. Benson talks to Velasco about recording Chilli who claims that it was illegal. Velasco mentions that he learned about two new murders. It is unknown whether or not Chilli was imprisoned for his crimes. (SVU: "Bend the Law")