FILE - In this March 19, 2009 file photo, military officers escort alleged drug trafficker Jesus Vicente Zambada Niebla during his presentation to the media in Mexico City. Documents unsealed Thursday, April 10, 2014, by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago show Zambada, a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in April 2013 and has been cooperating with authorities. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)
April 10, 2014 - 9:48 AM
CHICAGO - The U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago says a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico pleaded guilty to drug trafficking a year ago and has been co-operating with authorities.
Documents unsealed Thursday show Jesus Vicente Zambada Niebla pleaded guilty in April 2013. A co-defendant is Joaquin Guzman Loera, also known as "El Chapo," who was arrested in February.
Zambada was extradited to the U.S. in 2010. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute multiple kilograms of cocaine and heroin between 2005 and 2008.
Authorities say he is responsible for distributing tons of cocaine in the U.S.
Court documents show Zambada admitted he was "trusted lieutenant" for his father, Ismael Zambada Garcia, considered to be co-leader of the cartel with Guzman.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014