Cartel boss reaches plea deal

Cartel boss reaches plea deal: (Arrellano Felix enters a guilty plea)…Benjamin Arrellano Felix entered the plea Wednesday in San Diego.

It was part of a plea deal offered by prosecutors. The one time boss of the Arrellano Felix Drug Cartel entered the plea to Racketeering and money Laundering conspiracy charges. In exchange he will be sentenced to no more than 25 years in Federal Prison. He must also forfeit $100 million in proceeds from the Cartel. The last brother of the Arrellano Felix family was arrested in Mexico in 2002. He was extradited to the United States in April. The Cartel had controlled drug trafficking in Baja California for years. US officials say the Cartel has now been dismantled. The territory has been taken over by the Sinaloa Drug Cartel. Mexican officials say a splinter Arrellano Felix Cartel remains and is being run by a nephew, Fernando Sanchez Arrellano. The Attorney for Benjamin Arrellano Felix said after the court proceedings his client could have faced up to 140 years in prison if he had gone to trial. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2. Under the agreement, he would serve 20 years in prison before being eligible for parole.