A former leader of Mexico's notorious Gulf drug cartel has been sentenced to 30 years in a U.S. prison and fined US$100 million.
Juan Francisco Sáenz Tamez was sentenced Tuesday by a judge in Beaumont, Texas, on drug and money laundering convictions.
Sáenz Tamez is a 23-year-old resident of the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas. He was arrested in October 2014 during a shopping trip to Texas.
Sáenz Tamez pleaded guilty in January to distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute marijuana; and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Prosecutors say Sáenz Tamez was responsible for shipping at least half a ton of cocaine and 90 tons of marijuana into the U.S. Investigators believe the drug cartel laundered US$100 million.