CALI CARTEL ACCOUNTANT, KEY U.S. WITNESS, GETS 7 YEARS

Guillermo Pallomari, whom U.S. agents and prosecutors describe as one of
the most important witnesses to emerge from the world's most dangerous and
efficient cocaine cartel, was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison
for racketeering and laundering $400 million for Colombian drug lords.

Repentant and crestfallen, the former accountant for Miguel Rodriguez
Orejuela, a reputed leader of the Cali cartel, stood before Senior U.S.
District Judge William Hoeveler and apologized for "offending the United
States."

The seeds of his troubles, Pallomari said, were planted when he accepted an
employment offer from Rodriguez that lifted his pay from $5,000 to $7,000 a
month. "My stupidity led me to accept this offer," he said.

Since then, the personal consequences have been enormous.

Pallomari's wife and his best friend are presumed dead, the victims of
cartel assassins. He and his two children are in a U.S. witness protection
program. And now, he must serve prison time.

"I will bear this shame in my heart and my soul for the rest of my life,"
said Pallomari, a Chilean national who spent 17 years as an accountant and
systems analyst in legitimate business before working for Rodriguez.

"It is sometimes difficult to look at my children in the eyes and not give
them an explanation," he said.

But law enforcement authorities in four nations -- the United States,
Colombia, Mexico and Switzerland -- have greatly benefited from Pallomari's
briefings and testimony about cartel activities. As Rodriguez's accountant,
he knew what public officials received cartel payoffs, and where the
organization's money was laundered.

His words have implicated at least two former Latin American presidents, a
number of politicians, lawyers and high-ranking narcotics traffickers.

His lawyer, Michael Altman of Boston, told the court that, since his
client's arrival from Colombia in 1995, he has provided information now
being used in 44 criminal cases in Colombia against at least 120 defendants
and suspects.

Pallomari has told Colombian and American authorities that the Cali cartel
showered $5 million on the election campaign of former Colombian president
Ernesto Samper, an allegation that Samper has vehemently denied.

Pallomari also has linked former Mexican President Carlos Salinas de
Gortari and his brother, Raul, to drug cash, charges that also have been
denied.

And, in a case in Miami federal court against criminal defense lawyers,
Pallomari testified that former Justice Department official Michael Abbell
helped create phony financial statements to derail a government forfeiture
case. The testimony was among the evidence that helped prosecutors win a
conviction against Abbell in July.

Although Pallomari must do time despite his cooperation, Assistant U.S.
Attorney William Pearson said he felt the government's recommendation of
seven years was a fair one in light of the massive amounts of money that
Pallomari moved for the cartel. He could have faced 30 years to life for
his admitted offenses.

Altman predicted his client could be out of prison by 2002 for good
behavior and credit for time served, and could receive a further reduction
if he testifies at other trials.

Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson