New York court sentences FARC rebel to 11 years prison

A judge in New York sentenced a FARC guerrilla to 11 years in prison for conspiring to financially support a terrorist organization.

Jorge Abel Ibarguen Palacio, who pleaded guilty in February to collaborating with the FARC, received a sentence of 10 years and 10 months from Federal Judge William Pauley.

Pauley said, “Today’s sentence marks a new successful conviction of a FARC member and a new blow against this dangerous terrorist organization.”

The guerrilla, alias “Turbo,” was detained in 2008 in Panama alongside Yaleir Banol-Ramos, alias “Diana,” who also pleaded guilty to supporting the FARC.

Banol-Ramos has also been jailed, receiving a 15-year sentence from the same judge last September.

The pair were extradited to the U.S. in April 2009 after being caught by Panamanian border police with guns, explosives, communications equipment, FARC uniforms and cocaine.

They were identified as members of the 57th Front of the FARC, which operates in the Colombian department of Choco, which borders Panama.

It is alleged to specialize in drug trafficking and obtaining guns, weapons, uniforms and other objects for the rebels.

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