In the trial of Hugo “El Pollo” Carvajal Barrios, the former head of intelligence of Chavismo, he pleaded guilty to all narcoterrorism charges brought against him by the Southern District of New York. This was announced by prosecutor Jay Clayton, alongside the acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Robert Murphy.
The U.S. officials clarified that the Venezuelan ex-military officer accepted responsibility before District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, acknowledging his role in a conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, participating in narcoterrorism for the benefit of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), as well as related weapons offenses.
“The deeply concerning reality is that there are powerful officials from foreign governments conspiring to flood the United States with drugs that kill and weaken,” while describing “Pollo” Carvajal as one of the most powerful men in Venezuela, responsible along with other members of the Cartel of the Suns for using cocaine as a weapon, “flooding New York and other American cities with poison.”
Carvajal’s Partnership with a Deadly Terrorist Group
Prosecutor Jay Clayton explained that, to carry out his criminal activities, Hugo “El Pollo” Carvajal Barrios partnered with a “deadly terrorist group” to support their combined drug trafficking and terrorism efforts, wreaking havoc in communities across the United States and beyond.
Meanwhile, Robert Murphy stated that Carvajal Barrios used his position as military intelligence director of Venezuela and “forgot his responsibility to the Venezuelan people to intentionally harm the United States.”
He added that “after years of trying to evade the law, Carvajal Barrios will likely spend the rest of his life in federal prison.”
Charges Against Hugo “El Pollo” Carvajal Barrios
The charges that Hugo “El Pollo” Carvajal Barrios accepted are:
ChargeMinimum and Maximum Prison SentenceCharge One: Conspiracy of NarcoterrorismMandatory minimum of 20 years in prison; maximum of life imprisonmentCharge Two: Conspiracy to Import NarcoticsMandatory minimum of 10 years in prison; maximum of life imprisonmentCharge Three: Possession of Firearms, including machine guns and destructive devicesMandatory minimum of 30 years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other prison sentence imposed; maximum of life imprisonmentCharge Four: Conspiracy to Possess Firearms, including machine guns and destructive devicesMaximum of life imprisonment
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