Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Sinaloa Cartel Drug Lord Pleads Not Guilty In U.S. District Court In Chicago

Zambada-Niebla aka "El Vicentillo" a Lieutenant in the Sinaloa Cartel pleads not guilty to federal conspiracy charges

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 24, 2010

Chicago -On Tuesday, Jesus Vicente Zamada-Niebla, 34, pleaded not guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to import, sell and distribute large quantities of cocaine and heroin in the U.S. Zambada-Niebla stood silent while an interpreter translated the court proceedings and the charges in Spanish to him. He went before federal Judge Ruben Castillo.
During the highly secured arraingement, the federal prosecutor told the judge that the U.S. DEA, FBI and other law enforcement entities had substantial evidence against Zambada-Niebla. "There is quite a bit of evidence in this case," Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Shakeshaft said in court.
Zambada-Niebla was represented by New York Attorney Edward Panzer, who entered a not guilty plea for his client.
Zambada-Niebla was charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than one kilogram of heroin. He is also charged with conspiracy to import more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than one kilogram of heroin into the United States.
Zambad-Niebla was extradited last week from Mexico to face conspiracy charges. The criminal complaint states, he even conspired to buy arms and had taken part in the planning of perpetuating an attack on U.S. federal buildings and Mexican government buildings for the governments coordinated crackdown of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Early this week, several U.S. International Bridges in the South Texas border crossing along Matamoros, Mexico were temporaryly shut down to avoid the drug war between the Sinaloa Cartel and other cartels from spilling into Texas. Mexican military police in Matamoros were able to kill and capture several members of a drug cartel during a confrontation. Heavy gun fire between the Mexican military police and cartel could also be heard in the U.S. border side in Texas.
Even federal authorites have been monitoring family members of suspected corrupt Mexican officials, police and warring drug cartel factions who have relocated their families to the U.S.
In Honduras, the Tribuna capitol newspaper on Tuesday reported in its front page that Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera has been living in a luxury campound in the minicipality of Copán. El Chapo has been buying local elections to get his people into power and is protected by local officials and police. He has been staying in Honduras to avoid the Mexican military
police crackdown on the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, according to Óscar Alvarez, Security Minister of Honduras.

Related article on Zambada-Niebla conspiracy charges and extradition to the U.S.

Mex. Drug Lord Jesus Zambada-Niebla to appear before federal judge for drug trafficking conspiracy charges in Chicago http://bit.ly/dkogzD

Mexican Drug Lord "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera living in a luxury campound at Copán Honduras & protected by local officials & police http://bit.ly/c4FUWm

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