(CNN Spanish) ––
The Colombian drug trafficker Dairo Antonio Úsuga, alias "Otoniel", pleaded guilty to the charges against him in the United States, during a new hearing this Wednesday. Úsuga was captured in Colombia in October 2021 and they later extradited him to the United States.
“Otoniel”, leader of the Clan del Golfo, is extradited to the United States
Dressed in blue and accompanied by his lawyers Paul Nalven and Alexei Schacht, "Otoniel" read a statement in which he acknowledged his activity in Colombian paramilitary groups and the security he provided to drug traffickers.
He explained that they were charged "taxes" for having laboratories in paramilitary zones.
Considered by the US and Colombian authorities the top boss of the Clan del Golfo, Úsuga had pleaded not guilty in May 2022. He later pleaded guilty in mid-January, according to a US Department of Justice document. CNN access.
The charges against him are alleged participation in a continuing criminal enterprise and conspiracy to distribute narcotics in the Eastern District of New York.
He is also indicted for maritime narcotics conspiracy in the Southern District of Florida.
The charges were transferred to the Eastern District of New York and carry a penalty of 10 years to life in prison.
The Prosecutor's Office recommends the latter, but his defense recalled that, due to the extradition agreement, the measure does not apply to this case.
advertising
By pleading guilty, Úsuga waived the possibility of a trial and now goes to a sentencing instance, the date of which is yet to be defined.
During the session, federal judge Dora Irizarry asked Úsuga about his state of health, who pointed out that he suffers from heart problems and that he has received care and medicine.
Otoniel, who was considered one of the most wanted men in Colombia and for whom a US$5 million reward was being offered, remains in a detention center in Brooklyn.
Othniel