A drug cartel leader in Mexico known as “La Barbie” has pleaded guilty to charges in the U.S.
Edgar Valdez Villarreal, a former Texas high school football player whom authorities say rose to high ranks within a Mexican cartel pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in Atlanta. “La Barbie,” as Valdez came to be known, appeared before a federal judge on Wednesday.
He pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to import and distribute cocaine and conspiring to launder money.
Valdez was arrested in Mexico in 2010 and was extradited to the United States in September of last year. He was among 13 people extradited to face charges.
Federal prosecutors say Valdez was involved in bringing truckloads of cocaine from Mexico for distribution in the eastern U.S. and shipping millions of dollars in cash back to Mexico.
