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on the border line between the US and Mexico
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Sunday, July 10, 2022

Former Drug Kingpin Benjamín Arellano Félix Seeks Early Release From Prison. Feds Say No Way.

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat

A March 9, 2002 file photo provided by the office of Mexico’s attorney general shows drug trafficker Benjamin Arellano Felix on the day of his arrest at his house in Puebla, Mexico.

Once the head of the Tijuana cartel, Arellano argues he is at risk of COVID-19 and has already served enough time 

Benjamín Arellano Félix, once one of the most powerful drug lords in Mexico, wants out of prison early.

Eleven years into a 25-year prison term, Arellano has petitioned a San Diego federal judge for “compassionate release.”

His motion, filed April 25, remains sealed. But on Tuesday, federal prosecutors filed a 19-page response that provides insight into Arellano’s reasoning and goes on to argue why it would be a bad idea.

Arellano, 68, cites the risk of contracting COVID-19 in prison as the main reason for his request for a sentence reduction, coupled with the argument that he has served a “sufficient” amount of time behind bars for his offenses, according to court records.

The decision will ultimately be up to a judge.

Arellano’s rise to drug kingpin, and his family’s control of the lucrative Tijuana smuggling corridor in the 1990s, are now part of narco lore.

The Arellano brothers were major traffickers of cocaine and marijuana, and later cheap methamphetamine, into the U.S. They operated initially as part of a coalition of trafficking groups, but some of those business relationships turned sour. The resulting turf wars culminated in a particularly bloody chapter in Tijuana’s history.

Arellano was arrested in Mexico in 2002 and extradited to San Diego in 2011. He pleaded guilty to racketeering and money-laundering charges and agreed to forfeit $100 million as part of the deal.

Under the plea, he admitted to being the head of the Arellano Félix Organization and using violence — from kidnappings to murders — to further the cartel’s interests.

He is now serving his sentence at a high-security federal prison in Lee County, Va.

Judges may grant a reduction in sentence if they find “extraordinary and compelling reasons” and as long as the person is not considered a danger. Typical reasons include old age, terminal illness or “extraordinary and compelling” family circumstances.

Arellano meets none of this criteria, prosecutors argue. He is being treated for hypertension in prison, and he has been vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, they said.

Prosecutors argued that the “Court’s assessment should be driven by the prevailing scientific view that vaccination makes extremely rare the risk of severe disease from COVID-19.”

The serious nature of Arellano’s crimes also argues against early release, according to prosecutors.

“Defendant ran an international drug cartel. As the leader of the organization, Defendant supervised the importation of tons of narcotics into the United States and directed countless kidnappings and murders in furtherance of the cartel,” prosecutors said. “Conversely, there is nothing in Defendant’s history and characteristics that justify, excuse, or mitigate his egregious conduct.”

Upon receiving Arellano’s motion, U.S. District Judge Larry Burns ordered the federal public defenders office to review the motions and relevant documents to determine if he should be appointed a defense attorney. On May 27, a public defender wrote to the judge that after a review of the material, appointment of counsel was not recommended at this time.

Arellano’s chance of early release seems to be a long shot.

When the same judge sentenced Arellano in 2012, he denied a request to receive a five-year credit for time already served in Mexico.

“A 25-year sentence is completely justified,” Burns said at the time. “If I had it within my powers, I would impose a longer sentence.”

Younger brother Francisco Javier Arellano Félix was sentenced to life in prison for his role running the cartel, but the term was later reduced to 23½ years for his cooperation while locked up. Another brother, Eduardo Arellano Félix, was deported in August after serving the majority of his 15-year sentence in the U.S. and was promptly re-arrested in Mexico.

The San Diego Union Tribune

57 comments:

  1. He’s been arrested since 2002, where do you get he’s been incarcerated for 11 years? His time starts since his arrest from Mexico.

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    1. He was extradited in 2011 and they wouldn't allow the previous time count.

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    2. 12:24 it's up to the judge to have time served. Mostly they don't count the time in Mexico just the time they got extradited

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    3. @1:50 that's the difference between snitching to the government or not

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  2. If you read article it states judge wouldn’t let the time in Mexico count. Good article.

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  3. I like Trumps idea, Death Penalty for drug dealers!

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    1. Trump was real good at talking a lot of shit. Unfortunately he never came through with most of his empty promises. Like when he had everyone convinced that Mexico was going to pay for the wall. Yeah ok you fucking moron. 😁

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    2. Sol so you ok with south americans flooding mexico lol

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    3. I grew up around human smuggling. Majority of people being smuggled in are only coming to work. Work that most individuals seem to think they're too good to do. As long as they're contributing to the economy it doesn't bother me.

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    4. Sol, 1:26 said he like the idea of death penalty, nothing to do with the wall. Stick to the fucking comment topic! So you agree with death penalty for drug dealers or not, not a stupid wall!

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    5. 1:56 I do. Best way to capitalize on organs and andrechrome harvesting.

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    6. 2:15 relax there anger issues. Lol. Yeah I'm ok with the death penalty for drug pushers. Why not. As it is it makes no sense to house these guys only to hear them cry like bitches cause they're worried about Covid. To me it just seems like a waste of money with housing, feeding, and clothing them. The same thing should also apply to the pharmaceutical companies who are also contributing to the endless overdoses. It may sound harsh but why not.

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    7. I like your comment Sol. I have worked with people from Mexico, all the way down to Central America, in construction most of my life, 30 years to be exact, and became a contractor in 2000, and I know that compared to around 60% of US born guys and even a few women who are considered white, and around 90% of both men and women from Mexico to Central American work their fucking asses off, and their wife’s are excellent cooks, would eat so good for lunch. I never discriminate, and and everyone gets paid by their hard work. It doesn’t matter where a person is from, you will get paid for your production and accountability. I hope that one day, we can just call each other people instead of Americans or Mexicans, Central or South Americans, on and on throughout the world.

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    8. Niñas, por favor.

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    9. Trump only floated that idea for high level fentanyl traffickers.

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    10. 3:57 I'm into that

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    11. The problem isn’t their hard work ethic it’s the lack of education and morals. When some of these people are off work chilling or hanging out they do stupid shit with their bad seed acquaintances and family members. They start acting up getting drunk or high and then drive like that, talk loud or are disrespectful. The US already had enough of this with its own citizens being negatively influenced by social media and celebrities who lack and morals and standards.

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    12. @7:31 Jajajaja. No mames buey. Talking about lack of education.

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    13. @7:31 Idiot!! You never been around immigrants families I see. Keep watching Fox News

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    14. 9:00 that’s what you lack idiot, education. Todo pendejo estas!

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    15. @731 the cleaners just called… your white hood is pressed & cleaned… ready for pick up…

      -Holden D. Cash

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    16. 10:18
      I don’t watch or stream anything the news and media is all hype and bullshit. Left and right republican or democrat conservative or progressive liberal they’re all hypocrites and confused. Trump, Biden, Osama, Lopez Hablador, Putin etc all part of the same multi headed snake.

      You’re dumb ass fuck if you don’t agree that most immigrants have little to no education. Been around plenty of immigrants and have family members who work in the fields en las piscas. Esa gente esta bien ignorante but I can’t blame them it’s the corrupt government of which ever nation the U.S included.

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    17. Death penalty for drug dealers and drug users fuck it.. only way to stop the bs

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    18. 3:48 remember the lobbyists that bought and paid US Lawmakers to legalize opioids in the Name of their Lords billionaires of Big Pharma...
      They created the market and nurtured it until it was ready for black market, including Orrin Hatch and Mitt Romney.for his drug trafficking investments.
      Trump had a love affair with 3 times convicted drug trafficker Joseph Weischelbaum, got him a short prison sentence and gave him a job and a million dollar apartment...
      to reward his silence or what???
      Florida has been a heaven for drug traffickers and money laundering, and tromp chose to live right in the middle of that SWAMP.

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    19. 2:15 Sol was making a point which offered no one but you. We will be happy to refund your subscription.

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    20. 3:48 i dont know man, SIR wouldnt be with us anymore

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    21. 3:48 I too regret to inform you that due to event's happening in Mexico. The government would not allow the death penalty and if they did like 1:43 says, Sir would not be with us to offer Gibberish stuff.😂😂

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    22. 1:26 so based on your very ignorant opinion, large majority of drug dealers are US citizens... so, Trumps declarations are non sense, like anything he said about everything related to migration / Mexico, and other stuff, that on the practice end up being BS... just like the useless wall... Dont want immigrants?, copy the Canadian way... they have no walls, border patrol or illegals working anywhere :)

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  4. …. mitigation of his sentence should be dependent on whether he's learned his lesson, and on the possibility/probability of him returning to a life of crime. He's not gonna go back to Mexico fully reformed and to a job of flipping burgers n tortillas. No it will be a life of crime, he needs to stay in the slammer.

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  5. I grew up the same way Sol, but border towns have a different system… they pay for the immigration process which is easier for those living on the border since it’s easier to manager meetings with immigration, but very difficult for central and South Americans (lawyers make it difficult and expensive. As far as Trump, he Leo most of his promises, and had Cemex working the wall - kept both sides employed. Border towns didn’t mind, it’s never been an issue, the issue has been thee since 9-11, for central and South Americans that is.

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  6. You got realized that Benjamin Arellano Felix isn’t a rat and doesn’t get involved with deals with the DEA like chapo and Zambadas do there no way he will get a early released date.

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    1. He wasn't offered a deal.

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    2. There’s no one for him to “rat” on.

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    3. There's ALWAYS somebody to snitch on..
      Cds groupies just like making excuses for their idols 😆
      CAF was still strong when he got busted so he could've snitched on the WHOLE structure if he wanted to..

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    4. Did you mongolitos read the article? His younger brother got a reduced sentence for "cooperating" with the feds. Went from life to 23 years in prison. In other words, the fucker snitched, backstabbed, betrayed, whatever you weenies wanna call it. At the end of the day, when you fucken ding dongs come on this blog talking about you wouldn't snitch, it's because you don't do shit. You guys like the Narco chime but move no weight, push no drugs, just give your "what if scenarios" about shit you could only imagine of doing.

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    5. Yep. And realize that most high level law enforcement are very corrupt and will do anything to win. Very skilled at turning people.

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    6. 7:19 can't do the time don't do the crime!!
      At the end of the day it's your closest friends that snitch on you for a reduced sentance.
      so best to stay out that business 💯

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    7. Nińas mocosas, por favor.

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    8. @7:19 they Sinaloense/Duranguense. WTF did you expect? 🤔

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    9. 7:19 he got the most he could get. according to the judge he would have given him a longer sentance if he could.
      His brother snitched but not him. If he would have snitched the court would have no problem stating that fact and would give him extra privileges to get early release 😉

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    10. @5:05
      That’s not snitching… They don’t want the people below they want the people on top and if you’re on top there’s no one bigger that you’re realistically going to be able to snitch on. I don’t know why that’s so hard for you to comprehend. They’re not gonna let some big fish snitch on a small player and then go back into the streets that makes no sense. The internet is absolutely obsessed with “snitching” and yet half of you don’t even know what the realities are.

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    11. 7:19 you calling people names in here, you think your smarter than everyone in here. You win nothing by belittling people in here. You fool

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    12. 7:19 does win something....
      Being called a fool.

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    13. Chapo never said a word, he denied everything in court and never talked. Mayos son maybe but not Chapo.

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    14. Chapo wasn't offered a deal so he wasn't able to snitch but he wanted to sooo badly.

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  7. Mexico and USA are two different countrys .... So everything In mexico means nothing here or is irrelevant and vise versa .... 2 totally different rulings .... Plus they know how corrupt Mexico is and he prob lived like a king in prison over there for some cash ..... To think otherwise is Ludacrous

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  8. They should tell him Pipe down u ain't going nowheres vato loco

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  9. Time served in Mexico should never count for these cartel leaders. Wasn’t this guy in Altiplano partying like no tomorrow? Shouldn’t count as time served.

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  10. Wow! Benjamin forfeited $100 million.

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    1. Vicentillo was fined 1.5 BILLION after he snitched and put on witness protection

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    2. At 911. Even though vicentillo was fined this much. Did he pay it. Because Benjamin sounds like he gave that paper where as the others just get "fined".

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  11. Laughable, they aren't going to give him any slack.

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  12. He should have thought about this before he started killing thousands of people and destroying millions of lives with drugs. Lock him up in solitary like Chapo the rest of his miserable life and let him cry in solitude to the walls. He will die one day anyway, why make it easier, let nature take its course and let him go crazy in solitary waiting to die

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  13. Benjamin Arellano was extradited the very next day he restated that he had nothing to do with the Posadas Ocampo death... US / Mexico authorities skipped extradition protocols of both nations, that usually takes weeks, months or even years, for him it was from one day to another... Opus dei and Vatican moving their strings or just a coincidence?

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