Colombian Kingpin Daniel Rendon Herrera "Don Mario" Sentenced to 35 Years and Forfeits $45 Million f

[Judi Lynn]

Colombian Kingpin Daniel Rendon Herrera “Don Mario” Sentenced to 35 Years and Forfeits $45 Million for Narco-Terrorism

By Socalj 10/19/2022 08:14:00 AM
“Socalj” for Borderland Beat



“Don Mario” transformed the AUC paramilitary group into the Clan del Golfo cartel after refusing to demobilize during peace efforts.

In federal court in Brooklyn, Daniel Rendon Herrera, also known as “Don Mario,” a citizen of Colombia, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry to 35 years’ imprisonment for engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise as a leader of the paramilitary, multibillion dollar drug organization known as the “Clan del Golfo” (CDG), and 15 years’ imprisonment for conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC). The sentences will run concurrently. As part of the sentence, the Court ordered Rendon Herrera to pay $45,750,000 million in forfeiture. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges in November 2021.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA); Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI); Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Steven A. Nigrelli, First Deputy Superintendent, New York State Police (NYSP), announced the sentence.

“Once the most feared narco-terrorist in Colombia, today marks the end of the criminal career of Rendon Herrera, responsible for importing tons of cocaine, fueling violence, perpetuating drug abuse leaving a wake of destruction from Colombia to the United States, and stained with the blood of rival drug traffickers and civilians who were tortured and killed by the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Our Office remains committed to cooperating with our international partners to dismantle transnational criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo.”

“Daniel Rendon Herrera was one of the most prolific drug traffickers to ever operate in Colombia,” stated DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Tarentino. “As leader of the AUC and Clan del Golfo, Don Mario was responsible for not only importing multi-ton quantities of cocaine into the United States, but also for terrorizing the citizens of Colombia for financial gain. Today’s sentencing underscores DEA’s commitment to bringing to justice drug traffickers at the highest levels who cause the most harm throughout our communities.”

“These paramilitary drug cartels may seem to be a world away, but they have a deadly impact on communities here in New York City. Today’s sentencing demonstrates we and our partners remain committed to pursuing the leadership of these organizations and will hold them accountable for the devastation they cause,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.

More:
https://www.borderlandbeat.com/2022/10/colombian-kingpin-daniel-rendon-herrera.html




Daniel Rendon Herrera

“Don Mario”







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Daniel Rendon Herrera, once the "most feared narco-terrorist in Colombia," sentenced to 35 years in U.S. prison

OCTOBER 18, 2022 / 11:33 AM / CBS/AFP


CRIME
Daniel Rendon Herrera, once the "most feared narco-terrorist in Colombia," sentenced to 35 years in U.S. prison
OCTOBER 18, 2022 / 11:33 AM / CBS/AFP


A notorious Colombian drug lord nicknamed Don Mario was sentenced to 35 years in a U.S. prison, federal prosecutors said Monday.

Last year, Don Mario, whose real name is Daniel Rendon Herrera, pleaded guilty in a New York court to running a criminal enterprise and conspiring to support a designated terrorist group called the Clan del Golfo, or Gulf Clan.

The Gulf Clan employed "hitmen, who carried out various acts of violence, including murders, assaults, kidnappings, and assassinations to collect drug debts, maintain discipline, control and expand drug territory and to promote and enhance the prestige, reputation and position of the organization," prosecutors said.

The sentence "marks the end of the criminal career of Rendon Herrera," once the "most feared narco-terrorist in Colombia," said Breon Peace, prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York.

Rendon Herrera used to be a leader of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, known as AUC, which the U.S. government designated in 2001 as a global terrorism organization.

More:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/daniel-rendon-herrera-don-mario-colombia-drug-lord-sentenced-35-years-us-prison/

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‘Don Mario’ leaves 2000 crimes unresolved in Colombia to face US drug charges
Adriaan AlsemaDecember 18, 2017

The founder of Colombia’s largest illegal armed group, the AGC, told national radio that President Juan Manuel Santos extradited him to protect the interests of “dark forces” in politics.

Santos signed off on the extradition of Daniel Rendon, a.k.a. “Don Mario,” last week citing claims the war lord continued leading the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces (AGC) from prison where he has been since 2009.

Rendon told W Radio that “the letters that were confiscated by the justice department don’t contain anything but invitations to surrender.”



“Don Mario” formed the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC) in 2006 after abandoning a demobilization process with the AUC. (Screenshot: Youtube)

Adding to impunity
More than 2,000 crimes involving 4,000 victims would remain unresolved in order to allow the warlord to respond to two criminal charges in the US, Rendon and his attorney told media.

A victim representative told City TV he regretted the decision by the president to extradite one of the country’s most prolific paramilitary warlords of the past decade.

Rendon is serving 20 years for homicide, forced disappearance, torture, kidnapping, drug trafficking and forced displacement.

According to the former warlord, his extradition serves to grant impunity to politicians involved in some of the almost 2,500 crimes he claims to have committed.

Rendon said the prosecution has disappeared testimonies in which the former AUC commander implicated politicians in his crimes.

More:
https://colombiareports.com/amp/don-mario-leaves-2000-crimes-unresolved-colombia-face-us-drug-charges/