News (Media Awareness Project) - Colombia: Who's Who |
Title: | Colombia: Who's Who |
Published On: | 2003-05-04 |
Source: | St. Petersburg Times (FL) |
Fetched On: | 2008-08-25 17:33:28 |
WHO'S WHO
BARUCH VEGA, 56 aka, Dr. B Fashion photographer and undercover law
enforcement asset in America's war on drugs. Colombian born, moved to
United States in mid 1970s. Clients include international models, Colombian
drug traffickers and various branches of U.S. law enforcement. Status:
Photographing models, working with new traffickers looking to turn
themselves in, living in Florida.
ALEJANDRO BERNAL, 43, aka Juvenal (Young One), Tony, The key target of
Operation Millennium, said to have brought smuggling into the computer age
and exported 20 to 30 tons of cocaine a month. Former kitchen cabinet
salesman, partnered with Mexico's top drug boss, Amado Carillo Fuentes
(aka, Lord of the Skies). Admits he made some $10-million by trafficking
cocaine. Supplied guns to Colombia's illegal paramilitary forces. Childhood
friend of Fabio Ochoa. Status: Pleaded guilty April 17, 2003, to conspiring
to smuggle 20 tons of cocaine; can substantially reduce minimum 20-year
term by cooperating; expected to testify against Fabio Ochoa.
FABIO OCHOA, 45, One of the Medellin cartel's top members in the 1980s,
along with brothers Jorge and Juan David. Jailed six years in Colombia in
1990s. Says he never returned to drug business. Said to have served as
Bernal's "mentor." Status: Extradited to Miami in 2001, charged with
conspiring to smuggle 20 tons of cocaine; trial to start Monday.
CARLOS RAMON, 36, aka El Medico (The Doctor), Medellin medical student,
turned to trafficking after drug lord Pablo Escobar murdered his father.
Surrendered December 1999, along with brother-in-law and two cousins in
Vega's $42-million cooperation deal. Status: Sentenced to 72 months for a
conspiracy to smuggle drugs into Miami. By cooperating, hopes to reduce it
to 34 months. Due to be released Jan. 5, 2007.
JUAN GABRIEL USUGA, 41, aka Bionico, Ramon's ex-brother-in-law, included in
family package, reportedly confessed to smuggling tons of cocaine for a
decade. Sentenced to 34 months, reduced to 22 months. Status: Released
March 6, 2003.
JULIO CORREA, aka Julio Fierro, La Senora, Charged in 1995 with smuggling
two tons of cocaine to Miami. Joined the cooperation program, served no
jail time. Talked up the program at Panama "Conventions."
Status: Disappeared in Colombia in 2001; presumed murdered.
NICOLAS BERGONZOLI, Medellin rancher with ties to Colombia's illegal
paramilitary forces. Indicted in 1995 for 3,300-pound drug shipment.
Recruited by Vega, talked up the program at Panama meetings. Met several
times with Ochoa family, and told one of them: "The difference is this,
man, the difference is Baruch." Status: Cooperating, charges dropped, case
sealed.
ORLANDO SANCHEZ-CRISTANCHO, 42, aka Martin, or Orlan, Highest ranking
U.S.-based member in Bernal's organization, according to Operation
Millennium. Worked out cooperation deal with Vega in Panama. Status:
Sentenced to 63 months for money laundering, due to be released Dec. 17, 2004.
CARLOS CASTANO37, aka, El Senor, Heads the Colombian Self-Defense Forces
(AUC), an illegal paramilitary army of about 18,000 financed by drug
trafficking and dedicated to fighting left-wing guerrillas. Had discussions
with DEA envoys about cooperating but talks broke off after the United
States declared AUC a terrorist organization. Indicted in January 2002 for
drug smuggling. Status: At large, presumably in mountains of Colombia.
LUIS HERNANDO GOMEZ, aka Rasguno (Scratch), Principal member, along with
Diego Montoya, of Northern Valley cartel, targeted by joint FBI-DEA
investigation from Miami. Indicted in 1997 for conspiracy to distribute
narcotics, attended Vega's Panama meetings. Status: Still negotiating his
surrender.
PABLO ESCOBAR, Kingpin of the Medellin cartel, a loose association of
traffickers named for the city in northwest Colombia. Terrorized the
country with car bombings and political assassinations. Status: Killed by
Colombian police in December 1993.
BARUCH VEGA, 56 aka, Dr. B Fashion photographer and undercover law
enforcement asset in America's war on drugs. Colombian born, moved to
United States in mid 1970s. Clients include international models, Colombian
drug traffickers and various branches of U.S. law enforcement. Status:
Photographing models, working with new traffickers looking to turn
themselves in, living in Florida.
ALEJANDRO BERNAL, 43, aka Juvenal (Young One), Tony, The key target of
Operation Millennium, said to have brought smuggling into the computer age
and exported 20 to 30 tons of cocaine a month. Former kitchen cabinet
salesman, partnered with Mexico's top drug boss, Amado Carillo Fuentes
(aka, Lord of the Skies). Admits he made some $10-million by trafficking
cocaine. Supplied guns to Colombia's illegal paramilitary forces. Childhood
friend of Fabio Ochoa. Status: Pleaded guilty April 17, 2003, to conspiring
to smuggle 20 tons of cocaine; can substantially reduce minimum 20-year
term by cooperating; expected to testify against Fabio Ochoa.
FABIO OCHOA, 45, One of the Medellin cartel's top members in the 1980s,
along with brothers Jorge and Juan David. Jailed six years in Colombia in
1990s. Says he never returned to drug business. Said to have served as
Bernal's "mentor." Status: Extradited to Miami in 2001, charged with
conspiring to smuggle 20 tons of cocaine; trial to start Monday.
CARLOS RAMON, 36, aka El Medico (The Doctor), Medellin medical student,
turned to trafficking after drug lord Pablo Escobar murdered his father.
Surrendered December 1999, along with brother-in-law and two cousins in
Vega's $42-million cooperation deal. Status: Sentenced to 72 months for a
conspiracy to smuggle drugs into Miami. By cooperating, hopes to reduce it
to 34 months. Due to be released Jan. 5, 2007.
JUAN GABRIEL USUGA, 41, aka Bionico, Ramon's ex-brother-in-law, included in
family package, reportedly confessed to smuggling tons of cocaine for a
decade. Sentenced to 34 months, reduced to 22 months. Status: Released
March 6, 2003.
JULIO CORREA, aka Julio Fierro, La Senora, Charged in 1995 with smuggling
two tons of cocaine to Miami. Joined the cooperation program, served no
jail time. Talked up the program at Panama "Conventions."
Status: Disappeared in Colombia in 2001; presumed murdered.
NICOLAS BERGONZOLI, Medellin rancher with ties to Colombia's illegal
paramilitary forces. Indicted in 1995 for 3,300-pound drug shipment.
Recruited by Vega, talked up the program at Panama meetings. Met several
times with Ochoa family, and told one of them: "The difference is this,
man, the difference is Baruch." Status: Cooperating, charges dropped, case
sealed.
ORLANDO SANCHEZ-CRISTANCHO, 42, aka Martin, or Orlan, Highest ranking
U.S.-based member in Bernal's organization, according to Operation
Millennium. Worked out cooperation deal with Vega in Panama. Status:
Sentenced to 63 months for money laundering, due to be released Dec. 17, 2004.
CARLOS CASTANO37, aka, El Senor, Heads the Colombian Self-Defense Forces
(AUC), an illegal paramilitary army of about 18,000 financed by drug
trafficking and dedicated to fighting left-wing guerrillas. Had discussions
with DEA envoys about cooperating but talks broke off after the United
States declared AUC a terrorist organization. Indicted in January 2002 for
drug smuggling. Status: At large, presumably in mountains of Colombia.
LUIS HERNANDO GOMEZ, aka Rasguno (Scratch), Principal member, along with
Diego Montoya, of Northern Valley cartel, targeted by joint FBI-DEA
investigation from Miami. Indicted in 1997 for conspiracy to distribute
narcotics, attended Vega's Panama meetings. Status: Still negotiating his
surrender.
PABLO ESCOBAR, Kingpin of the Medellin cartel, a loose association of
traffickers named for the city in northwest Colombia. Terrorized the
country with car bombings and political assassinations. Status: Killed by
Colombian police in December 1993.
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