Major Cocaine Ring Chief Pleads Guilty

The owner of a Costa Rica ranch where the man suspected of masterminding the murder of U.S. drug Agent Enrique Camarena was sheltered before his arrest pleaded guilty Monday to directing a major cocaine distribution ring based in Los Angeles.

Jesus Felix-Gutierrez, 39, owner of an East Los Angeles seafood company, pleaded guilty to heading a Southern California narcotics network that prosecutors have alleged is linked to Camarena murder suspect Rafael Caro-Quintero’s international drug empire.

Federal prosecutors agreed to dismiss charges that Felix-Gutierrez, a West Covina resident, helped Caro-Quintero flee Mexico to his ranch in Costa Rica after the February, 1985, kidnaping, torture and killing of Camarena near Guadalajara.

But the plea agreement allows the government to file new charges against Felix-Gutierrez stemming from the Camarena investigation, including murder and kidnap counts.

Awaiting Trial

Caro-Quintero was arrested at Felix-Gutierrez’s ranch in April, 1985, and is awaiting trial in Mexico City in the Camarena murder and on drug smuggling charges.

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles has indicted Caro-Quintero and other alleged members of his narcotics trafficking organization on drug charges. In addition, federal prosecutors have said that they expect a new indictment to be issued soon accusing one or more defendants in the murder of Camarena and pilot Alfredo Zavala Avelar.

Prosecutors said Felix-Gutierrez’s guilty plea could have provided an enormous boost for their side had he agreed to testify against other defendants in the case.

But his attorney, Cornell Price, said Tuesday that he would “absolutely not” testify against any other defendants. Price also denied that the narcotics organization Felix-Gutierrez headed was linked to Caro-Quintero.

If convicted on the original indictment, Felix-Gutierrez faced life imprisonment without parole. Under Tuesday’s plea agreement, he can be sentenced to no more than 15 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie set sentencing for Sept. 15.