Carlos Landin Martinez was found guilty of 10 counts including drug trafficking, conspiracy and money laundering over alleged cartel activities from 2005 to 2007
Prosecutors said Landin oversaw an operation in which traffickers wanting to use lucrative smuggling routes across the border into South Texas had to pay Landin a "piso," or tax, to move drugs in cartel territory.
Landin was the cartel's second-in-command in Reynosa, a Mexican city south of McAllen, prosecutors say.
Drugs came across on people, on rafts and through a tunnel that opened up through a manhole in Hidalgo, Texas, among other means, according to investigators.
The proceeds from drug sales all over the United States were then smuggled back into Mexico, authorities said.
Government witnesses, arrested on similar charges and hoping for leniency in their own cases, testified about the operations but did not have firsthand knowledge of Landin, also known as "The Puma."
An exception was Antonio Parra Saenz, who testified last week that he saw Landin in a black Suburban in Mexico before he was taken away to be tortured for 15 days after a large load of drugs was seized from his stash house in Pharr, Texas.
Landin's attorneys contended the government relied on "stories from jailbirds" for evidence that did not directly link Landin to the charges.
Eric Jarvis, one of Landin's attorneys, said in closing arguments that the charges involve crimes other people were arrested for.
Luis Martinez Robledo, on trial with Landin, also was convicted on all counts.
Landin faces 20 years in prison on each count when he is sentenced April 17.
Carlos Landin Martinez"The Puma." was found guilty
Related Posts:
Brooke Elizabeth Bumgardner,Jesse Leigh Olszewski possession of controlled substanceBrooke Elizabeth Bumgardner, 20, and Jesse Leigh Olszewski, 21, of possession of controlled substance, penalty group 1, between 4-200 grams. They also charged them with possession of marijuana between four ounces and five pou… Read More
Texas court bailiff accused of peddling cocaine and selling guns to the Gulf CartelA Texas court bailiff accused of peddling cocaine and selling guns to the Gulf Cartel, two TSA officials indicted for helping to smuggle drugs onto airplanes, and a California evidence tech with sticky fingers and a bad habit… Read More
David Munoz arrested in El Paso, TexasThe FBI arrested 52-year-old David Munoz on Thursday in El Paso, Texas.The FBI says Munoz had facilitated two deliveries of 50 kilograms of cocaine to two undercover agents. Authorities believe Munoz had traveled between New … Read More
Cameron County Constable Precinct 1 Saul Ochoa arrested on charges stemming from possession and distribution of marijuanaCameron County Constable Precinct 1 Saul Ochoa was arrested Wednesday morning by the FBI on charges stemming from possession and distribution of marijuana, according to federal court documents.FBI spokesman Jorge Cisneros con… Read More
Rickie Dawson York aka Mark Burton Convicted Felon 60 Years in prisonRickie Dawson York, who turned 39 on Tuesday, pleaded guilty to possessing 1.46 grams of meth on Oct. 16. A Smith County jury sentenced the Tyler man after 25 minutes of deliberation in 241st District Judge Jack Skeen Jr.'s c… Read More
0 comments:
Post a Comment