Former Mexico governor guilty of drug trafficking
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‘A Mexican court sentenced a former state governor to 36 years in prison Wednesday for fomenting drug trafficking, overturning an earlier ruling that had imposed six years on lesser charges, his defense attorney said,’ the Associated Press reports.
‘Mario Villanueva, who was governor of the Caribbean state of Quintana Roo from 1993 to 1996, is also fighting extradition to the United States on charges he helped traffickers ship drugs to the U.S. market.’ ‘A Mexico City federal court, acting on an appeal by prosecutors, convicted Villanueva of money laundering and fomenting drug trafficking, said defense attorney Horacio Garcia. He was sentenced to 36 years and nine months in prison.’ ‘The U.S. alleges that Villanueva offered aid or protection to traffickers who smuggled 200 tons of cocaine into the U.S. Prosecutors have said Villanueva received $500,000 for each of several shipments he aided.’
-- Reed Johnson in Mexico City
