According to a judicial document, prosecutor Joseph Nocella Jr. gave up requesting this sanction against Mexican drug traffickers

Prosecutor Joseph Nocella Jr. gave up requesting the death penalty for Rafael Caro Quintero, former leader of the extinct Guadalajara Cartel, and for Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, alias "El Viceroy", who remained at the head of the Juárez Cartel after the arrest of his brother, Amado Carrillo Fuentes, alias "El Señor de los Cielos".

According to judicial documents published on August 5 by journalists Alan Feuer and Keegan Hamilton, the prosecutor informed the judge of the case and the authorities that he will not seek the death penalty against Rafael Caro Quintero, who is accused of the murder and torture of former DEA agent, Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, or Vicente Carrillo Fuentes.

This decision was reported in parallel with that of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel arrested on July 25, 2024, who will not be sentenced to death either.

"The Government respectfully presents this letter to inform the Court and the defense that the Attorney General of the Republic has authorized and ordered this Office not to seek the death penalty against the accused Rafael Caro Quintero," the document reads.

Both Caro Quintero and Carrillo Fuentes face their legal process in the Federal Court of Brooklyn in New York, United States, this after they were handed over by the Government of Mexico along with 27 Mexican drug traffickers on February 27.

Since their arrival in the United States, it was reported that Caro Quintero and Carrillo Fuentes were wanted for drug trafficking and that they could face the death penalty due to their illicit activities.

That day, the acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Derek S. Maltz, stressed that by prosecuting the 29 drug traffickers with the maximum possible penalties they will honor the memory of "Kiki" Camarena, who was murdered in February 1985.

"By prosecuting these defendants to the maximum extent permitted by law, we honor the memory of Special Agent Camarena, Deputy Sheriff Byrd and other victims who are too numerous, as well as decades of hard work in the trenches by our partners in law enforcement," he said.

A month agoing the next hearing for Caro Quintero and Carrillo Fuentes, the US prosecutor decided not to sentence the Mexican drug traffickers with the maximum penalty.

It should be remembered that on June 24, a period of 90 days was established to continue negotiations in the case of "El Viceroy", who has 46 charges including import and possession with the intention of distributing cocaine and marijuana, conspiracy to assassinate witnesses and homicides committed to protect the criminal structure.

Carrillo Fuentes from the beginning of his trial pleaded not guilty, however, this decision is part of his negotiations to avoid the death penalty.

Meanwhile, Caro Quintero's case evolves after it was reported at the beginning of July that prosecutor Joseph Nocella had delivered a letter to the drug trafficker's defense along with a series of materials related to the kidnapping, torture and murder of "Kiki" Camarena.

The "Narco de Narcos" is accused of the crimes of organized crime, drug trafficking and firearms, while in Los Angeles, California, he is accused of the murder of the former DEA agent.

The US will not ask for the death penalty for Rafael Caro Quintero and El Viceroy either