Sinaloa Cartel member pleads guilty to cocaine importation, money laundering

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KESQ) - A high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel member pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court today to overseeing the importation of thousands of kilograms of cocaine into the United States, as well as the laundering of millions of dollars in drug proceeds.

Gerardo Julio Rueda Torres, 49, of Mexicali, arranged the importation of around 50 kilograms of cocaine per week into the U.S. for more than a decade, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, which stated that his subordinates regularly drove the drugs from Mexicali into Imperial County.

His plea agreement states that he also took part in laundering cartel drug proceeds for nearly 20 years, first by transporting money himself into Mexico, then later maintaining a "network" of drivers who moved half a million dollars at a time across the border.  

Rueda Torres is set to be sentenced in December.