In Sinaloa Cartel Case in SDNY One In Earlier Pled Guilty now Gutierrez Gets 92 Months Like Mariano

In Sinaloa Cartel Case in SDNY One In Earlier Pled Guilty now Gutierrez Gets 92 Months Like  Mariano by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, Sept 29 – Back on April 14, 2023 DOJ announced the unsealing of fentanyl trafficking, weapons, and money laundering charges contained in three Indictments charging 28 defendants, including 23 based in Mexico, four based in China, and one based in Guatemala, adding that "JULIO MARIN GONZALEZ was previously arrested in the United States and will be arraigned before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla."   Inner City Press, covering the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, went to Gonzelez' arraignment on April 20. He had been appointed a CJA lawyer, whose associate and a paralegal were there, the latter translating the indictment to Gonzalez. He said they have "begun discussing" it; he pled "no cupable" / not guilty.    The AUSA when asked said there were no victims, at least under the statute.  On June 6, 2024, Inner City Press was in the SDNY Magistrates Court when co-defendant Silvano Francisco Mariano was brought in, extradited from Colombia with drug, gun and money laundering charges. He was assigned a (white shoe) CJA lawyer and was detained on consent, already in Essex County Correctional Facility yellow. On June 5, 2025 counsel to co-defendant Mariano asked to push the June 10 conference into late July, to "continue ongoing plea negotiations." Jump cut to August 13 when two more in the case were presented in the SDNY Magistrates Court, the day after they and others were flown in from Mexico. Others questioned the legality of their extraditions - in this case, the two new detainees ostensibly said the same retained lawyer, who said a CJA had been brought in "only for presentment" based on what Clerk said. Can joint representation continue? On August 20 the US Attorney's Office wrote in noting the two's "desire to be represented by the same counsel" - and proposing Curcio hearing questions for August 21. Inner City Press went. On September 3 co-defendant 18 Sergio Duarte Frias pled guilty, with sentencing set for December 16 at 3 pm. On December 2 his defense lawyer wrote in asking for the minimum - 60 months - on December 16. On December 9 the US Attorney's Office wrote in asking for 108 months. On December 16, he got 80 months. On January 22, 2026 the US Attorney's Office write in on co-defendant Rubio Zea  asking for a substantial sentence albeit less than the 108 months stipulated by the parties, on January 27. In fact, she got six months. On March 5, 2026 co-defendant Mariano pled guilty to count two, with sentencing set for July 31. On May 15, Gerarlo Merida Sanchez was brought before SDNY Chief Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn, and into the case. Inner City Press was there, and live tweeted: He's drawn as counsel former prosecutor Sarah Krissoff (who also reps Nadine Menendez) All rise! Deputy: This is US v. Sanchez. Defense: Sarah Krissoff for Mr. Merida Sanchez. Judge: Time of arrest? AUSA: He was arrested in Arizona and arrived in this District last night.  Judge: I understand your client consents to detention. AUSA: Judge Failla has set a conference for June 1. We ask for Speedy Trial Act time to be excluded. Judge: Done On June 5 for the June 22 sentencing of co-defendant Juan Pablo Lozano, the US Attorney's Office wrote in and asked for 20 years in prison. On June 10 for the June 17 sentencing of Julio Marin Gonzalez, the US asked for 80 months, below the 135 to 168 month guideline. On June 16 Lozano got 175 months, starting with his arrest in Texas: "One-hundred-seventy-five (175) months. It is the Court's intention that this sentence run fully concurrently with the sentence imposed in United States v. Lozano, No. 22 Cr. 1656-01 (W.D. Texas), because the offense conduct in the Texas case is relevant conduct to the instant case. As a result, the Court intends for Mr. Lozano to receive credit against this sentence for all time served since his arrest in Texas on September 19, 2022." Jump cut to September 29, when Gutierrez was up for sentencing. Inner City Press live tweeted: All rise! Judge Failla: Anything beyond what I have in writing? Defense: I wrote wife, but they intend to be married. And once when I wrote Mexico I mean Colombia. Judge: It happens. AUSA? AUSA: We have many death-resulting cases, usually against street dealers  AUSA: His co-defendant Mr. Mariano got 92 months, Mr. Gutierrez is as least as culpable. Judge: The Defense says their client did not participate in the firearms. AUSA: He think he was more culpable. I am trying to find out more on that particular point Judge Failla: You really are taking one for the team. AUSA: If I get any more information I will provide it. Defense: Consider the harshness of the jail conditions in Colombia, and in the MDC. Gutierrez: I am sorry to the country, I want to rejoin society.  Judge Failla: I will take 10 minutes  4:08 pm, Judge Failla is back Judge: The guideline is 135 to 168 months. The minimum is five years. The Government says at least what Mr. Mariano got. Let me say, the conduct is egregious: fentanyl labs, he offered it for delivery anywhere in the US  Judge Failla: I find he is comparable with Mr. Mariano. So I am going to impose the same sentence, 92 months. Please rise. [Gutierrez is in Essex County Correctional Facility yellow, with interpreter's headphones] Judge: I sentence you to 92 months Inner City Press remains on the case(s).  The overall case is USA v. Guzman Salazar, 1:23-cr-180 (Failla) *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. 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