Accused Cocaine Kingpin Offering His Cooperation, Prosecutor Says
Carlos Lehder Rivas, accused of heading a cartel that supplied 80% of the cocaine smuggled into the United States, has offered to cooperate with authorities, a U.S. attorney said Tuesday.
U.S. Atty. Robert Merkle announced the development in the case during a routine hearing to decide whether Lehder should be moved from his Atlanta prison cell to a facility that is closer to his Miami attorneys.
Merkle said that Lehder made his offer of cooperation in a letter to Vice President George Bush, who heads a special Florida task force of U.S. Customs Service and Drug Enforcement Administration agents.
The prosecutor refused to give further details or release the letter. Aides to Bush said they were checking on the letter.
Lehder, 37, faces trial Sept. 8 in Jacksonville. He is charged with bringing 3.3 tons of cocaine into the United States from Colombia.
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