Colombian drug lord ‘more prolific’ than Pablo Escobar sentenced to 45 years in prison
was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison on Tuesday — with the judge labeling him a dealer “more prolific than Pablo Escobar.”
His defense attorneys had sought a 25-year term, but federal prosecutors argued he should be sentenced to 45 years behind bars — noting the sheer amount of cocaine he trafficked to the US and the cold-blooded killings he ordered during his reign. “To the people and youth of Columbia, I advise them to not take the path I’ve taken,” he said. “We should leave all conflicts and weapons in the past.”
He held onto his power by ruling with an iron fist, ordering the assassinations and torture of rival cartel members, suspected traitors, government cooperators and even law enforcement members, the feds said.When his brother was killed during a police raid in 2012, Úsuga David ordered the towns the group controlled to shut down businesses and keep residents inside, telling his hitmen — called “sicarios” — to kill anyone who disobeyed, according to prosecutors.
His lawyer Paul Nalven asked for leniency since their client “should be acknowledged for accepting responsibility sooner than others did.” She said the letters may have been written in “fear of retaliation” and that even if the drug lord had done positive acts for the community, it didn’t negate the harm he unleashed.
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