Top Los Zetas cartel leader sentenced to 31 years in U.S. prison for drug trafficking

HOUSTON, TX – A high-ranking member of the violent Los Zetas cartel has been sentenced to over 31 years in federal prison after authorities say he directed the trafficking of massive quantities of cocaine and marijuana into the United States while using violence to control key smuggling routes.

Eleazar Medina-Rojas, also known as “El Chelelo,” 53, of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, was sentenced for his role in a years-long drug trafficking conspiracy that involved more than 90,000 kilograms of marijuana and over 450 kilograms of cocaine. In addition to prison time, Medina-Rojas was ordered to pay $26.5 million in forfeiture.

Medina-Rojas, a former “plaza boss” for Los Zetas, operated smuggling route

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