Ex-Gulf Cartel leader captured in Edinburg gets 30 years in prison, $100M fine
BEAUMONT, Texas — A former leader of Mexico's notorious Gulf drug cartel captured last year in Edinburg was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in a U.S. prison and fined $100 million.
Juan Francisco Saenz-Tamez was sentenced Tuesday by a judge in Beaumont, Texas, on drug and money laundering convictions.
Saenz , whose cartel nickname is a vulgar Spanish term for the female anatomy, is a 23-year-old native of Camargo, across the U.S.-Mexico border from Rio Grande City. He was arrested in October during a shopping trip to Texas.
Saenz pleaded guilty in January to distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute marijuana; and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Prosecutors say Saenz was responsible for shipping at least half a ton of cocaine and 90 tons of marijuana into the U.S. Investigators believe the drug cartel laundered $100 million.
Read more: http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/ex-gulf-cartel-leader-captured-in-edinburg-gets-years-in/article_b1bbac66-1f65-11e5-99ac-233901f98098.html