New York, U.S. – Former Mexican cartel leaders Rafael Caro Quintero (RCQ) and Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, also known as “El Viceroy,” pleaded not guilty on Friday in a federal court in the Eastern District of New York to charges that could carry the death penalty.
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Both men, notorious figures in the drug trade, face charges related to their leadership roles in criminal organizations and the large-scale distribution of cocaine into the U.S. Additionally, RCQ faces weapons and murder charges, including the killing of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent.
Their brief court appearances came just a day after the U.S. and Mexican governments coordinated an operation that led to the transfer of 29 major drug traffickers from Mexico to the U.S. Unlike traditional extradition, officials have labeled this operation an “expulsion,” a classification that allows the possibility of the death penalty.
Decades of Criminal Activity and Violence
“For decades, Rafael Caro Quintero and Vicente Carrillo Fuentes have flooded the United States and other countries with drugs, violence, and mayhem,” said U.S. Attorney John Durham. “Their pursuit of power and control has led to countless deaths, including the brutal torture and murder of DEA Special Agent Enrique ‘Kiki’ Camarena.”
RCQ, 72, is a co-founder of the now-defunct Guadalajara Cartel, one of Mexico’s first major drug syndicates. He was arrested in Costa Rica in 1985 for his involvement in the kidnapping, torture, and murder of Camarena, but was controversially released in 2013 due to a legal technicality. The decision was later overturned, and he was recaptured in 2022 in Sinaloa after a violent confrontation that resulted in the deaths of 14 Mexican Navy agents.
Carrillo Fuentes, known as “El Viceroy,” once led the Juarez Cartel, which controlled drug trafficking routes into the U.S. and had strong ties with Colombian suppliers. He took over the cartel after the 1997 death of his brother, Amado Carrillo Fuentes, known as “The Lord of the Skies.” However, his alliance with the Sinaloa Cartel crumbled in 2004 due to internal conflicts, sparking a brutal war that led to numerous deaths, particularly in Sinaloa and Chihuahua.
Legal Proceedings and Possible Sentences
RCQ faces multiple charges, including leading a continuing criminal enterprise, international narcotics distribution conspiracy, and unlawful use of firearms in connection with drug trafficking. Prosecutors emphasized his use of extreme violence to maintain control, including orchestrating Camarena’s death after the DEA dismantled a major drug operation.
During his court appearance, Caro Quintero wore the handcuffs once belonging to Special Agent Camarena, a symbolic gesture orchestrated by law enforcement. His defense attorney, Michael Vitaliano, told the court that RCQ has a heart condition and requires medication.
Carrillo Fuentes, who has been under indictment in the Eastern District of New York since 2009, faces charges related to his cartel’s massive drug trafficking operations. His role in the Juarez Cartel made him one of the most powerful drug lords of the 1990s, but his empire crumbled amid conflicts with rival organizations.
RCQ’s next court hearing is scheduled for March 26, while Carrillo Fuentes will appear before the court on March 25. Both men could face the death penalty if convicted, as U.S. authorities increasingly view cartel-driven overdose deaths—especially those linked to fentanyl—as acts of terrorism.
Their transfer to the U.S. signals a shift in U.S.-Mexico cooperation on cartel enforcement, with officials determined to hold cartel leaders accountable for decades of drug-related violence and destruction.
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