Thread: Cartel kingpin 'La Barbie' pleads guilty to cocaine trafficking

Cartel kingpin 'La Barbie' pleads guilty to cocaine trafficking

By Cindy George
Updated 3:21 pm, Wednesday, January 6, 2016

The Texas-born kingpin known as "La Barbie" pleaded guilty to three cocaine trafficking charges Wednesday in an Atlanta federal courtroom.

During an hourlong hearing, Edgar Valdez Villareal admitted to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, attempting to import or export cocaine and money laundering before U.S. District Judge William S. Duffey Jr. of the Northern District of Georgia. The sentencing is set for March 29.

A 2009 nine-count indictment accuses Valdez and five co-defendants of running a cocaine distribution operation in the Atlanta area from May 2004 to January 2006.

The man called "La Barbie" was a highly prized target of U.S. drug interdiction efforts one of the first Americans to climb the ranks of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels.

Mexican authorities captured him in 2010 as the United States was offering a reward of up to $2 million for information leading to his arrest. Considered one of the Mexican underworld's most dangerous leaders, Valdez is accused of directing the movement of drugs, guns, ammunition and cash from Mexico through Texas and Atlanta.

The former Laredo resident, who is in his early 40s, was returned to the U.S. via West Texas in late September and made his first federal court appearance in Georgia in October.

He faces drug trafficking charges in several other jurisdictions.

Valdez is said to have been a standout high-school football player in the Texas-Mexico border city of Laredo, where a coach nicknamed him Barbie - like the doll - for his light-colored eyes and fair hair.

Three of his co-defendants have pleaded guilty. Two received sentences exceeding 20 years while the first to admit guilt got less than a decade behind bars.

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Pl...ie-6740932.php

Cartel Boss ‘La Barbie’ Sentenced to Nearly 50 Years in Prison

Posted: Jun 11, 2018 10:19 AM PDT Updated: Jun 11, 2018 10:19 AM PDT

Cartel Boss ‘La Barbie’ Sentenced to Nearly 50 Years in Prison
WESLACO – A Texas-born cartel boss was sentenced Monday to nearly 50 years in prison, according to the Associated Press.

Edgar Valdez Villarreal, aka La Barbie, is a notorious Beltran-Leyva Cartel boss.

He was convicted of drug and money laundering charges after pleading guilty in 2016.

Villarreal must also forfeit $192 million.

http://www.krgv.com/story/38396443/c...ears-in-prison

We need death penalty carried out swiftly!

I do not want to pay for this for 50 YEARS!

They still conduct their cartel business behind bars!

Get these vermin executed there are too many to house and feed!!!