Colombian warlords enter guilty pleas in US court

[Judi Lynn]

Colombian warlords enter guilty pleas in US court

The Associated Press
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

MIAMI: Two warlords from a far-right Colombian paramilitary group blamed for some of modern Colombia's worst atrocities pleaded guilty in Miami federal court to a drug conspiracy charge.

Ramiro Vanoy Murillo, 60, and Javier Lindo, 38, are among 14 paramilitary members extradited to the U.S. in May for their alleged roles in a massive cocaine smuggling operation in the late 1990s.

Sentencing was set for October. Vanoy Murillo faces up to 19 years in prison and Lindo, more than 17 years.

The Bush administration agreed it would not seek life sentences as a precondition of their extradition.

Colombia decided to extradite the men because they were still committing crimes from Colombian prisons and had failed to pay restitution to victims.

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