In San Diego, California, former drug kingpin Benjamin Felix pleaded guilty to federal racketeering and
money-laundering conspiracy charges. This marks the end of a decade-old case that targeted Mexico's most powerful organized crime group.
Felix was the former leader of the Arellano Felix drug cartel, which transformed Tijuana into a major drug trafficking corridor into the United States during a 16-year reign that ended with his arrest in Mexico in 2002.
His organization was also known as the Tijuana cartel. They poured tons of drugs into California and generated profits that fueled a criminal empire that terrorized their drug cartel rivals. They also partnered with corrupt Mexican police officials and funded lavish lifestyles that became the template for Hollywood movie depictions of Mexican organized crime.
According to the federal plea agreement reached with federal prosecutors in San Diego, he admitted that the drug cartel he ran generated hundreds of millions of dollars in profits, exchanged weapons for drugs from a rebel group in Colombia and trained hit squads to assassinate rivals and witnesses.
He was extradited from Mexico and faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in a federal prison. Under terms of the extradition agreement with Mexico, he is not subject to the death penalty, but many expected the kingpin to receive a life sentence.
Legal experts said the government's case was marred by the lengthy period it took to get the kingpin into a U.S. courtroom. Witnesses may have disappeared, died or decided against testifying.
The potential witnesses against him were a who's who of the cartel's upper hierarchy, including Ismael and Gilberto Higuera-Guerrero, who were key lieutenants, and Jesus Labra-Aviles, a longtime drug smuggler. All of the men were sentenced to at least 30 years in prison.
Felix was considered a criminal mastermind whose blend of ruthless ambition and sophisticated business dealings became a prototype for modern Mexican organized crime bosses. Originally from Sinaloa, he moved to Tijuana in the 1980s and within years had taken control of the criminal underworld along with his brother Ramon, a feared enforcer.
Their drug cartel pioneered the use of paramilitary-style tactics to intimidate enemies, amassing arsenals that included .50-caliber machine guns and using armored cars equipped with oil and smoke dispensers to evade arrest. The cartel also recruited gang members from San Diego who were trained by Middle Eastern mercenaries.
The impact of Arellano Felix's terror is still felt by many family members of victims who disappeared during the cartel's heyday. The cartel regularly used chemicals to dispose of enemies and disintegrated bodies by dumping them into vats of lye and acid.
As part of the federal plea agreement, four of the five counts in the original indictment were dismissed. He pleaded guilty to two federal crime charges: racketeering and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. He also agreed to forfeit $100 million.
Federal prosecutors take drug trafficking and money laundering criminal charges seriously. If you are convicted, you could face harsh fines and a lengthy prison sentence. You could also face confiscation of your personal property and other assets if it can be proven that they were acquired by illegal drug activity.
Being arrested for a federal drug crime means you need to obtain the legal services of a qualified
federal criminal defense attorney.
At the Law Firm of Cron, Israels & Stark our Los Angeles federal criminal lawyers offer you a free consultation to map out a legal strategy for your legal defense. We will carefully examine how the federal investigation is being conducted, including exposing errors in search warrants, interrogation and the collection of evidence. We can also take action to safeguard your assets should the prosecution initiate property forfeiture.
Our Los Angles federal conspiracy attorneys have defended countless clients facing federal crimes, including
drug sales,
manufacturing of drugs,
drug distribution,
marijuana crimes, among others.
Call our office today at 888-895-3607 to discuss your federal drug crime case.