Pubdate: Wed, 27 Sep 2006 Source: Ledger, The (FL) Copyright: 2006 The Ledger Contact: http://www.theledger.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/795 Author: Curt Anderson, The Associated Press COLOMBIAN BROTHERS PLEAD GUILTY TO DRUG TRAFFICKING MIAMI -- The two Colombian brothers who built the Cali cartel into the world's biggest cocaine supplier pleaded guilty Tuesday to U.S. drug trafficking and money laundering charges and agreed to forfeit $2.1 billion in assets, but also won an agreement breaking financial shackles for more than two dozen family members. Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela, 67, known as "The Chess Player" for his financial strategies, and 63-year-old Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela, dubbed "The Master" for his inventive smuggling tactics that included use of frozen okra and broccoli shipments, were sentenced to 30 years each in prison by U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno. The guilty pleas and sentences cap a 15-year U.S. investigation of the Cali cartel, which was once responsible for as much as 80 percent of the cocaine smuggled into the United States. More than 140 people have been convicted of drug related charges and 52 tons of cocaine seized in the investigation, which began in August 1991 when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents discovered 12 tons of cocaine in the port of Miami hidden in a shipment of cement posts. "The brothers' guilty pleas effectively signals the final, fatal blow to the powerful Cali cartel," Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said at a Washington news conference. "This is a day of pride for the people of Colombia and for international law enforcement." Yet prosecutors were forced to make some concessions to obtain the guilty plea. A separate agreement signed by 28 Rodriguez Orejuela family members guarantees that six of them will not be prosecuted for obstruction of justice or money laundering charges. The entire group will be permitted to keep some assets not tainted by drug money and, so long as certain conditions are met, will be removed from a U.S. Treasury Department list that has kept assets and bank accounts frozen since 1995 and prohibited them from doing business with U.S. entities. "They sacrificed themselves for their family," said David O. Markus, lawyer for Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela. Markus also noted that neither brother is being required to cooperate with U.S. or Colombian authorities in any other investigations. The Miami lawyer for the family members, Marc Seitles, said the deal would allow the group to get out from under the Cali cartel's shadow and lead productive -- and legitimate -- lives. "They are going to get the benefit of a new day, of starting a new life," Seitles said. The plea deal followed four months of intense negotiations between the brothers, the U.S. Justice, State, Homeland Security and Treasury departments and the government of Colombia. The side deal involving the family members will be handled much like a legal contract, with each side able to bring civil actions in Miami federal court to enforce the terms. The Rodriguez Orejuela brothers appeared in court Tuesday dressed in dark pinstriped suits, a departure from the tan prison garb they have worn previously -- but both still wore ankle shackles. Gilberto was extradited from Colombia in late 2004 and Miguel in early 2005, and both have remained jailed since then in Miami. Both addressed the court in Spanish, with Gilbeto saying that he "admitted to my responsibility willingly and I am submitting myself to American justice." Miguel went a bit further, issuing an apology to his family and adding: "I'm also apologizing to the people of the United States and to all individuals in authorities. I am doing this from the bottom of my heart." The charges they faced carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, but the U.S. agreed not to seek that penalty in its extradition agreement with Colombia. But the 30-year sentence means that neither man could be released until he was into his 90s. Associated Press writer Michael J. Sniffen contributed to this story. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine