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A state court sentenced former Public Security Secretary (SSP) of Morelos, Luis Angel Cabeza de Vaca to 10 years in prison this Thursday, charged with protecting members of the Beltran Leyva drug cartel during the administration of the National Action Party (PAN) governor Marco Adame Castillo.
The former Morelos Police chief was also accused of drug related misdemeanors, but was eventually acquitted of those charges.
Witnesses Sergio "El Grande" Villarreal Barragan and Edgar "La Barbie" Valdez Villarreal, both drug dealers and hitmen who worked for the Beltran Leyva drug cartel, testified to Cabeza de Vaca's involvement."La Barbie" testified that the former Secretary ordered him and 15 armed escorts freed after being caught by Morelos police in 2007 on order of drug lord, Arturo Beltran Leyva. Valdez Villareal later withdrew his declarations.
However, Villarreal Barragan testified that Beltran Leyva himself used the SSP helicopter to escape military operatives, saying the former secretary received US$300,000 per month as payment for his collaboration.
Cabeza de Vaca was arrested by agents of the Specialized Organized Crime Investigation Deputy Attorney (SIEDO) on May 16 2009, just hours after being fired by Governor Adame.
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