The infamous Sinaloa Cartel leader's reputed associate entered has pleaded guilty to money laundering charges. While he admitted to the said charges, he will not be indicted to drug smuggling, according to the federal authorities.
Edgar Manuel Valencia Ortega, also known as "the Fox" pleaded guilty on Wednesday to money laundering in connection to cocaine sale in Chicago and Los Angeles, Chicago Tribune reported. Nevertheless, federal prosecutors will not charge him of importing large quantities of the said substance.
The 28-year-old is also linked to the largest drug case in Chicago, which centers on the notorious Sinaloa cartel leader, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, whom he previously served. El Chapo Guzman was captured in January this year.
The defendant has stood in trial before U.S. District Chief Judge Ruben Castillo. He is not a fluent English speaker, so a Spanish interpreter was needed during the legal proceedings.
The defendant told the court judge that he only finished elementary education level and dropped out in high school in Mexico. Ortega took a job of selling and buying cattle. After that, he decided to get into illegal activities. Federal prosecutors said, Ortega worked on transporting millions of dollars made from drug sales in the U.S. to Mexico. According to ABC News, Ortega faces 20 years in jail and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 3rd.
He picks up the money made from drug sales and smuggle it to Mexico as cash, before making bank deposits through international money wiring services. Aside from prison sentence, he is also ordered to pay a fine up to $250,000 and supervised release.
Ortega was arrested in Las Vegas and then brought to Chicago, where he was named a defendant in an indictment that also named another El Chapo associate, WRAL.com reported.
Following his guilty plea, Ortega avoids trial but still faces prison time and deportation, according to the plea agreement. He is currently in custody at the MCC.
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