Drug Trafficking—Joaquin Mario Valencia-Trujillo

Yesterday a federal jury in Florida found Joaquin Mario Valencia-Trujillo guilty of drug trafficking and money laundering charges as a member of the famed Cali drug cartel.^[1] Mr. Valencia-Trujillo faces up to 40 years in prison as a result of the conviction.^[2] Sentencing is scheduled for February 1, 2006.^[3] Defense attorneys for Mr. Valencia‑Trujillo, also known as “El Joven” (“The Young One”), have stated that they will appeal the verdict.^[4]

After deliberating for 3 days, the jury decided that it believed the government’s arguments that Mr. Valencia-Trujillo operated dozens of front companies for the purpose of smuggling more than 100 tons of cocaine a year into the United States through ports in Miami, Tampa, Houston, New York, and Los Angeles.^[5]

Mr. Valencia-Trujillo’s connections in the United States were alleged to include Miami operators Salvador ''Sal'' Magluta and Augusto ''Willie'' Falcon. Last month we also noted that two alleged long‑time leaders of the cartel, Miguel “The Master” and Gilberto “The Chess Player” Rodriguez‑Orejuela, completed complex plea agreements with federal authorities and were sentenced to 30 years in prison.^[6] It is not known whether any of these individuals testified at Mr. Valencia‑Trujillo’s 3‑month trial. However, defense attorneys told reporters that they were disappointed with the jury’s reliance on the word of convicted criminals.^[7] They maintain that Mr. Valencia‑Trujillo amassed his $500 million fortune through legitimate business operations and has been wrongfully convicted.^[8]

Mr. Valencia‑Trujillo was arrested in Columbia in 2003. In 2004 he was extradited to the United States to stand trial on charges of conspiracy to import cocaine (21 U.S.C. § 846 and 21 U.S.C. § 952), conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine (21 U.S.C. § 841), and money laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1956).^[9]

---

[1] Colombian Drug Kingpin Convicted on Federal Drug Charges, Associated Press, Oct. 25, 2006 [hereinafter AP1].
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Appeal Planned for Colombian Kingpin Convicted on Drug Charges, Associated Press, Oct. 26, 2006 [hereinafter AP2].
[5] Elaine Silvestrini, Alleged Cali Coke Kingpin Does Not Testify at Trial, The Tampa Tribune, Oct. 13, 2006.
[6] Michael J. Sniffen, Leaders of Colombian Drug Cartel Plead Guilty, Associated Press, Sept. 27, 2006.
[7] AP2 supra note 4.
[8] AP2 supra note 4.
[9] AP1 supra note 1.