‘Don Diego’, former capo of the Norte del Valle cartel Thursday pleaded not guilty to U.S. cocaine trafficking charges.
Diego Montoya Sanchez entered the plea before a Miami
federal judge.
Prosecutors say the 46-year-old Montoya was chief of
Colombia’s Norte del Valle Cartel that has smuggled vast quantities of
cocaine to the U.S. over the years.
‘Don Diego’ was extradited from Colombia in December and is being held without bail. No trial date has been set.
Montoya’s brother, Eugenio, pleaded guilty in January to trafficking
and obstruction of justice charges and agreed to cooperate in the case.
He faces up to 30 years in prison. A third Montoya brother also pleaded
guilty and is serving U.S. prison time.