Leader of FARC Dissident Group Extradited to South Florida to Face Federal Cocaine Trafficking and Money Laundering Charges

MIAMI - The leader of Frente 33, part of the FARC dissident group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP), a designated foreign terrorist organization, was extradited from Colombia to the Southern District of Florida on Thursday to face federal charges stemming from an alleged international cocaine trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.

According to court records, from September 2021 through August 2022, Willinton Henao Gutierrez, also known as "El Mocho Olmedo," 45, and his co-conspirators participated in an international drug trafficking operation involving five kilograms or more of cocaine. The conspiracy allegedly operated in Colombia and in South Florida, including Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

Henao Gutierrez and his co-conspirators allegedly agreed to transfer funds from the U.S. to and through locations outside the country to promote the manufacture, importation, sale, and distribution of controlled substances.

Henao Gutierrez is charged with conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, conspiring to distribute cocaine known or having reasonable cause to believe it would be unlawfully imported into the United States, conspiring to commit money laundering, and attempted money laundering. He is charged alongside Jennifer Tapiero, Heyner Raul Sandoval Salazar, and Wilder Antonio Sanchez Duarte.

If convicted, Henao Gutierrez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison on each of the two drug trafficking conspiracy charges. He also faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the money laundering charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Justice Department's Judicial Attaché in Bogotá and Office of International Affairs secured the arrest and extradition of Henao Gutierrez. The Justice Department thanks the Cuerpo Técnico de Investigación of the Colombian Attorney General's Office for its assistance and coordinated efforts.

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division made the announcement.

DEA Miami and the DEA Bogotá Country Office are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Yara Dodin is prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link., under case numbers 23-cr-20070.

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