A former Mexican cartel lieutenant now pleads guilty in a California court after being released from custody, sources have confirmed.
Gustavo Rivera, a former high-ranking member of the Arellano Félix Organization (AFO), has pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges in federal court in San Diego.
After spending over 16 years in pretrial custody in Mexico and the U.S., he was released on his own recognizance, pending sentencing in February.
The 63-year-old Rivera admitted to conspiring to import marijuana and cocaine into the U.S. from 1991 to 2008.
He acknowledged working with several notorious cartel figures, including one of the Arellano Félix brothers and a Barrio Logan gang member who became an enforcer for the cartel.
Rivera was indicted in 2003 on multiple drug conspiracy charges, accused of rising to the rank of lieutenant within the AFO.
He was captured in March 2008 in Mexico and later extradited to San Diego in late 2019.
The AFO was engaged in violent rivalries with the Sinaloa cartel, leading to numerous arrests and prosecutions of its members.
In his plea agreement, prosecutors and defense attorneys recommended a sentence of time served, which influenced the judge’s decision to release him.
Rivera’s criminal history dates back to at least 1985, with multiple arrests for drug trafficking.
Rivera’s connections within the cartel included David Barron Corona, a notorious gang member involved in significant acts of violence, including a high-profile assassination attempt.
Following Barron’s death, Rivera began to rise in the organization and eventually became a close confidant of Francisco Javier Arellano Félix, the youngest brother in the AFO.
Rivera’s plea agreement also disclosed his connections to other major cartel figures, including Jose Alberto “Bat” Marquez and Everardo Arturo Paez Martinez, alias “El Kitty.”
Although authorities believe he may have coordinated violent acts, prosecutors decided to focus on drug conspiracy charges to simplify his extradition process.
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