News (Media Awareness Project) - US: Kingpin of Mexican Cartel Gets 17 Years |
| Title: | US: Kingpin of Mexican Cartel Gets 17 Years |
| Published On: | 2010-02-05 |
| Source: | Denver Post (CO) |
| Fetched On: | 2010-04-02 13:07:42 |
KINGPIN OF MEXICAN CARTEL GETS 17 YEARS
After Mexican drug kingpin Rafael Caro-Quintero was arrested for the killing of a U.S. federal agent, his younger brother, Miguel Angel Caro- Quintero, assumed control of the Sonora cartel.
The younger Caro-Quintero proved to be a lucrative leader, making more than $100 million for the organization.
Miguel Caro-Quintero, now 46, conspired with others to bring at least 100 tons of marijuana into the U.S. in the 1980s — mostly by a small Cessna airplane that landed in the Utah desert. The drugs were then shipped to other states, including Colorado and Arizona.
On Thursday, Caro-Quintero's long run ended in a Denver courtroom as U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer sentenced him to 17 years in federal prison.
Brimmer could have sent Caro- Quintero to prison for 20 years but gave him three years of credit for time served in a Mexican prison on an unrelated gun charge.
Caro-Quintero's wife and son looked on as he asked Brimmer for a 10-year prison term and begged to be incarcerated close to Mexico so he could have frequent visits from his family, particularly his ailing mother.
"The truth is that I am aware of the fact I made a mistake as a human being," Caro-Quintero said in Spanish. "I am very regretful, and I ask forgiveness for all who are present here and my family. I promise I will not make that mistake again."
"This is an outstanding example of law enforcement teamwork involving not only agencies within this country but also in the Republic of Mexico," Colorado U.S. Attorney David Gaouette said in a statement. "It also shows the tenacity of our law enforcement agents who, for years, continued to pursue Miguel Angel Caro-Quintero and bring him to justice and be punished for the serious crimes he committed."
Defense lawyer Walter Nash raised concerns about the conditions of Caro-Quintero's imprisonment. He is being held in a special housing unit at a federal prison in Florence, where he is in solitary confinement.
Brimmer said it's understandable that the Bureau of Prisons decided on special housing for such a high-profile defendant.
"I don't share in the dim prognosis for Mr. Caro-Quintero's future confinement that Mr. Nash does," Brimmer said.
After the hearing, Nash hedged on whether his client is being punished in prison for the crimes of his older brother.
"He had absolutely nothing to do with those deaths," Nash said. "The possibility does exist that some folks may connect him to the brother."
In 1985, Drug Enforcement Administration special agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena and a pilot who was a confidential informant were tortured and murdered in Mexico. Rafael Caro- Quintero is serving a 40-year prison term in Mexico for the crimes.
After Mexican drug kingpin Rafael Caro-Quintero was arrested for the killing of a U.S. federal agent, his younger brother, Miguel Angel Caro- Quintero, assumed control of the Sonora cartel.
The younger Caro-Quintero proved to be a lucrative leader, making more than $100 million for the organization.
Miguel Caro-Quintero, now 46, conspired with others to bring at least 100 tons of marijuana into the U.S. in the 1980s — mostly by a small Cessna airplane that landed in the Utah desert. The drugs were then shipped to other states, including Colorado and Arizona.
On Thursday, Caro-Quintero's long run ended in a Denver courtroom as U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer sentenced him to 17 years in federal prison.
Brimmer could have sent Caro- Quintero to prison for 20 years but gave him three years of credit for time served in a Mexican prison on an unrelated gun charge.
Caro-Quintero's wife and son looked on as he asked Brimmer for a 10-year prison term and begged to be incarcerated close to Mexico so he could have frequent visits from his family, particularly his ailing mother.
"The truth is that I am aware of the fact I made a mistake as a human being," Caro-Quintero said in Spanish. "I am very regretful, and I ask forgiveness for all who are present here and my family. I promise I will not make that mistake again."
"This is an outstanding example of law enforcement teamwork involving not only agencies within this country but also in the Republic of Mexico," Colorado U.S. Attorney David Gaouette said in a statement. "It also shows the tenacity of our law enforcement agents who, for years, continued to pursue Miguel Angel Caro-Quintero and bring him to justice and be punished for the serious crimes he committed."
Defense lawyer Walter Nash raised concerns about the conditions of Caro-Quintero's imprisonment. He is being held in a special housing unit at a federal prison in Florence, where he is in solitary confinement.
Brimmer said it's understandable that the Bureau of Prisons decided on special housing for such a high-profile defendant.
"I don't share in the dim prognosis for Mr. Caro-Quintero's future confinement that Mr. Nash does," Brimmer said.
After the hearing, Nash hedged on whether his client is being punished in prison for the crimes of his older brother.
"He had absolutely nothing to do with those deaths," Nash said. "The possibility does exist that some folks may connect him to the brother."
In 1985, Drug Enforcement Administration special agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena and a pilot who was a confidential informant were tortured and murdered in Mexico. Rafael Caro- Quintero is serving a 40-year prison term in Mexico for the crimes.
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