Narco-Terrorism Charges Added to Indictment of Colombian Paramilitary Leader and Narcotics Kingpin

[Judi Lynn]

Narco-Terrorism Charges Added to Indictment of Colombian Paramilitary Leader and Narcotics Kingpin

WASHINGTON, June 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lev L. Dassin, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the return of a superseding indictment charging Daniel Rendon-Herrera, aka "Don Mario," aka "El Viejo," aka "El Tio," aka "La Senora" -- a leader of the Colombian terrorist group Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) -- with narco-terrorism conspiracy. Rendon-Herrera, who was designated by the President as a Foreign Narcotics Kingpin on May 29, 2009, had previously been charged in this District with conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and to import thousands of kilograms of cocaine into the United States.

According to the superseding indictment returned today, which adds the narco-terrorism charge to a previously filed indictment in this case:

The AUC is a Colombian right-wing paramilitary and drug-trafficking organization, designated by the State Department as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially-Designated Global Terrorist Organization. The AUC is engaged in armed conflict with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarios de Colombia (FARC), Colombia's main left-wing guerilla group, and seeks to remove FARC sympathizers from positions of power and influence in Colombia. To support its political and terrorist objectives, the AUC involves itself in narcotics trafficking, for example by "taxing" narcotics traffickers operating in areas under AUC control. The AUC uses the narcotics proceeds to secure military-grade arms, including automatic assault rifles and grenades. Prior to his capture by Colombian National Police on April 15, 2009, Rendon-Herrera was the leader of a "Bloque" of 5,000 armed AUC paramilitary fighters responsible for establishing and maintaining AUC control over the Cordoba and Antioquia regions of Colombia. Rendon-Herrera helped finance his Bloque's terrorist activities, which included the kidnapping of civilians, by levying a "tax" on cocaine that he permitted to pass through areas under his Bloque's control.

Under the superseding indictment, Rendon-Herrera, 44, is now charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics with intent to support terrorism (prohibited by the 2006 Federal Narco-Terrorism statute); conspiracy to provide material support to the AUC, a foreign terrorist organization; and conspiracy to import narcotics into the United States. Rendon-Herrera faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison on the narco-terrorism charge; a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison on the material support charge; and a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison on the narcotics importation charge.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/narco-terrorism-charges-added-to-indictment,863352.shtml

http://malcsblog.com.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/daniel-rendon-herrera.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com.nyud.net:8090/imageserve/01N42fId6H2X5/610x.jpg

Reuters Pictures 2 months ago
Police officers escort drug lord Daniel Rendon Herrera (C), alias "Don Mario", after his capture in Apartado, Antioquia province April 15, 2009. Police on Wednesday captured Colombia's most wanted drug lord Rendon Herrera, a former paramilitary fighter who had offered his gunmen a $1,000 reward for each policeman they killed.