Colombian drug lord Juan Carlos Ramírez Abadía, also known as “Chupeta,” has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, with most of the sentence already served. Ramírez, a key supplier of cocaine to El Chapo’s Sinaloa cartel, had initially signed a cooperation agreement in exchange for a 25-year prison term. However, the judge reduced his sentence due to his pivotal role as a witness in El Chapo’s trial. Ramírez is expected to be released within a year.
Ramírez, who was arrested in Brazil in 2007 and later extradited to the United States, had undergone extensive facial surgeries to alter his appearance and evade capture. During the trial, he testified that he regularly supplied El Chapo with large quantities of cocaine. He also admitted to ordering 150 murders during his violent reign as the leader of Colombia’s North Valley Cartel.
El Chapo, the notorious Mexican drug lord, was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years in 2019. Ramírez’s lawyer argued that the original plea deal was invalidated due to complaints from former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe about lenient sentences for extradited cartel members. The judge approved a new agreement, resulting in a 20-year sentence.
Ramírez’s lawyer stated that his client had assisted prosecutors in several other cases involving high-level Colombian drug traffickers. While it is unclear if Ramírez will enter a witness protection program, his lawyer requested that he be placed in a major metropolitan area capable of addressing his medical needs.
As part of his plea deal, Ramírez has a $10 billion forfeiture judgment against him. He has already surrendered $1.2 million, and three governments have recovered approximately $1 billion in assets, including real estate, securities accounts, cash, and precious metals.
Author: Ryan Scott
Just a guy
