Ex-Judge In Venezuela To Be Sentenced In US Drug Case
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — A former judge from Venezuela is set to be sentenced in a Miami federal court over a cocaine drug trafficking case linked to the former President Hugo Chavez's regime.
A Friday afternoon hearing is set for Benny Palmeri-Bacchi, who pleaded guilty in November to charges of extortion, conspiracy to obstruct justice and money laundering conspiracy. Each charge carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence.
Prosecutors say Palmeri-Bacchi conspired with a former Venezuelan Interpol director to help traffickers move Colombian cocaine through Venezuela. The Interpol director and a former Venezuelan military intelligence chief were also indicted but remain in Venezuela.
Among the traffickers Palmeri-Bacchi admitted protecting was Jaime Alberto "Beto" Marin-Zamora, a top member of Colombia's North Valley Cartel. Marin-Zamora was extradited to the U.S. in 2010 and is serving a 16-year prison sentence.
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