The Colombian Dairo Antonio Úsuga, alias “Otoniel”and who was leader of the gulf clanpleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges against him in the United States, where he was extradited after his capture in October 2021.
According to Brooklyn federal court records, the criminal leader plans to change his plea, as on May 5, 2022, he did not acknowledge the allegations against him.
Following this new decision, Judge Dora Lizette Irizarry, who is presiding over the process against the Colombian drug lord, called a hearing for next January 25 in which “Otoniel” is expected to acknowledge his guilt in the crime of illegally introducing cocaine into the United States, and that the case be transferred to the East Court of New York, where he will appear next Wednesday, according to Efe.
In the document, signed by the defendant, his lawyer, a witness and the prosecutors of the Southern District of Florida and the Eastern District of New York, consent is given for the case to be transferred to the sentencing instance and pass from the jurisdiction of Florida to New York.
“Otoniel”, who was considered one of the most wanted men in Colombia and for whom a reward of five million dollars was offered, remains in a detention center in Brooklyn.
Úsuga was arrested by the Colombian armed forces in October 2021 near the Colombia-Panama border, and extradited to the United States the following May.
The US Attorney in Brooklyn, Breon Peacesaid that this criminal, as leader of the Clan del Golfo cartel, had been “one of the most dangerous and wanted drug lords in the world” and smuggled “outrageous” amounts of cocaine into the United States from June 2003 until his arrest.
It should be noted that the crimes charged against him carry a minimum prison sentence of 20 years, and a maximum of life imprisonment.
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