Mexico City – A convicted member of a powerful Mexican drug cartel has been sentenced to 36 years in prison, authorities said Saturday.
Juan Erasmo Rodriguez, convicted of organized crime, homicide, and illegal arms possession, also received a US$2,400 (euro2,000) fine, the federal Attorney General’s Office said in a news release.
He belonged to the Sinaloa drug cartel, based in the Pacific coast state of Sinaloa, the release said. The cartel is allegedly led by reputed drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who escaped from prison in 2001.
Guzman is one of Mexico’s most-wanted fugitives. He is also wanted in the U.S., where authorities have offered a US$5 million (euro4 million) reward for his capture. In December, Mexican Attorney General Daniel Cabeza de Vaca said Guzman was isolated and close to being caught, and is practically no longer running the cartel.
