CHICAGO (AP) — Prosecutors have called a witness with alleged drug cartel ties to testify at the sentencing in Chicago of a former Mexican intelligence-unit commander who worked closely with U.S. agents while divulging secrets to the cartel.
Prosecutors at Thursday’s federal court sentencing hearing for Ivan Reyes Arzate told the judge that they expect Sergio Villarreal Barragan to describe Arzate’s connections with the Beltran Leyva cartel.
Authorities say Arzate drew on U.S. intelligence to unmask a cartel informant, who was later tortured and killed. The defense denies that. It wants a 17-month sentence, setting Arzate free immediately with time served.
Arzate changed his plea in May from not guilty to no contest to obstruction charges. Prosecutors have asked for a 10-year prison term.
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