Notorious Jamaican drug lord Christopher "Dudus" Coke plead guilty Wednesday on one count of racketeering conspiracy and one county conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon stemming from his cocain and weapons struggling ring.
More than 70 people were killed when authorities moved in to arrest in Coke in his West Kingston neighborhood in June of last year.
"Today's plea is a welcome conclusion to this ugly chapter of criminal history," said US Attorney Preet Bharara.
Coke is head of a criminal gang known as ‘The Shower Posse.’ He was considered among the most wanted drug kingpins by U.S officials until his capture. DEA agents flew him back to New York after a bloody manhunt in Jamaica.
Prosecutors said since 1990, Coke controlled his drug ring from the Tivoli Gardens area in Jamaica. While cocaine and marijuana were sent into the US, investigators said he sent guns and other firearms from the US to other drug leaders in Jamaica.
Coke’s drug ring sold some of the drugs in the New York-area including the Bronx. Officials said they had wiretap information, informants and other evidence linking him to drug dealing dating back to 1994.The U-S had wanted to extradite Coke since at least 2009. But Jamaican officials at first resisted the effort.
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The ensuing raids to capture him led to a bloody street fight between Jamaican security officials and Coke’s supporters. Coke eventually surrendered and was flown to New York for trial.
Coke faces up to 20 years in prison under the plea agreement.
He is set to be sentenced on December 8 before US District Judge Robert Patterson.
