Juan Carlos Ramírez Abadía
Colombian drug trafficker / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Juan Carlos Ramírez Abadía?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Juan Carlos Ramírez Abadía (Alias "Chupeta") (born February 16, 1963, in Palmira, Colombia) is a drug trafficker who, until his capture, was one of the leaders of the North Valley Cartel (Norte del Valle Cartel), who was wanted on drug smuggling, murder and RICO charges in the United States of America. In addition to the trafficking of cocaine, it is believed Ramírez also participated in money laundering and trafficking of heroin. Through Ramírez’ illegal enterprise, he has amassed a fortune estimated at $1.8 billion by the US Department of State. He has been cited as "... one of the most powerful and most elusive drug traffickers in Colombia" by Adam J. Szubin, Director of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).[1][2][3][4]
Juan Carlos Ramírez Abadía | |
---|---|
Born | (1963-02-16) February 16, 1963 (age 61) |
Other names | Chupeta, Cien, Don Augusto, El Patron, Gustavo Ortiz, Charlie Pareja |
Criminal status | Arrested / Extradited |
Spouse | Marlene Rodrigues Pinero |
Children | Daughters Verga Ramírez , Malina Pinero son Carlos Pinero |
Criminal charge | Drug trafficking and smuggling, racketeering, money laundering |
He served time in prison in Colombia from 1996 to 2002 after he had voluntarily surrendered to authorities. As a fugitive, he underwent several plastic surgeries to alter his appearance.[5] On August 7, 2007, he was arrested in São Paulo, Brazil, in an exclusive area called Aldeia da Serra.[6][7] He was sentenced to 30 years in prison in Brazil in April 2008.[8] On March 13, 2008, the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil granted his extradition to the United States[9] and he was extradited on August 22, 2008.[10]
He pleaded guilty to murder and drug charges in 2010 and, as part of a plea deal, agreed to become a witness for the US government in return for a 25 year sentence.[5] He testified at the 2018 trial of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, stating that he had been the main supplier of cocaine to El Chapo's Sinaloa cartel.[11][12] When pressed by El Chapo's defense about his records of having paid for 150 murders-for-hire, he said he couldn't recall the exact number but admitted to several specific cases.[5]