Atlanta, Jan 7 (EFE).- Edgar Valdez Villarreal, a.k.a. La Barbie, one of the leaders of the Mexican Beltran-Levya drug cartel, pleaded guilty to importing and distributing cocaine in the U.S., and money laundering, reported the Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Georgia Wednesday.
According to authorities, Valdez is accused of distributing over 1,000 kg (2204.6 pounds) of cocaine since 2004 through the U.S. southeast, particularly in the Northern District of Georgia.
"Valdez's conviction is a victory for the people in both the United States and Mexico whose lives were affected by his cocaine trafficking, through drug addiction and community decay or through the violence and corruption associated with the cartel's daily business," said U.S. Attorney John Horn.
Horn added "Valdez stands as a prime example of the Mexican cartels' influence over the U.S. drug trade, as truckload after truckload of his cocaine traveled across the border to Atlanta for further transport to cities throughout the eastern United States," and thanked Mexican authorities for their cooperation in his detention and subsequent extradition.
La Barbie, 42, who is a U.S. citizen, was arrested Aug. 30, 2010 near Mexico City and spent time in a Mexican prison for organized crime and homicide before being extradited to the U.S. last year.
Valdez began his association with drugs in the year 2000 in Laredo, Texas, as a marijuana supplier; with cocaine trafficking, he soon expanded the business to New Orleans, Louisiana, Memphis, Tennessee and Mississippi.
While the sentencing hearing is yet to be announced, each of the charges of trafficking against the accused carries a life sentence and a fine of $10 million.
For money laundering, Valdez could spend up to 20 years in jail and be subject to a fine of $500,000 or double the "laundered" amount.
