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Reputed drug cartel member pleads guilty in US

By WTOP Staff

RIK STEVENS
Associated Press

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A cousin of one of the world’s most notorious drug lords who prosecutors say was working to expand the cartel’s reach to Europe and northern New England faces up to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty Thursday in New Hampshire.

Jesus Gutierrez-Guzman admitted that he planned to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine plus heroin and methamphetamine in the U.S.

Prosecutors say his cousin is Joaquin Guzman, who led the violent Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico until his arrest in February. During meetings with undercover agents, including meetings in New Hampshire, Gutierrez-Guzman said he was a direct representative of his cousin, who is known as “El Chapo.”

Gutierrez-Guzman was arrested in 2012 in Spain with two others: Samuel Zazueta Valenzuela, who has pleaded guilty, and Rafael Humberto Celaya Valenzuela, who stands trial beginning next week. Another man, Jesus Soto, pleaded guilty last month in a separate, but related, case.

Authorities said the investigation began in 2009 when a link to the cartel was discovered in Massachusetts. Undercover FBI agents posed as members of a European drug trafficking organization and met with the four men in Spain, Mexico, Miami, the Virgin Islands, Boston, Phoenix and New Hampshire several times from 2009 through 2012.

During the meetings, Gutierrez-Guzman boasted that European distribution routes would initially involve shipments of 20 tons of cocaine at a time, according to prosecutors.

In July 2011, the cartel sent test shipments of pineapples and plantains from South America to Spain, then followed up with 750 pounds of cocaine, which was intercepted by police, investigators said.

When asked by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante why he was pleading guilty, Gutierrez-Guzman, 54, paused for several moments before leaning close to a court interpreter to answer.

“I admit it but I don’t know how to explain it,” he said in a soft, high-pitched voice. During the hearing, he told Laplante he was a married father and grandfather with a second-grade education.

As part of the plea, which was translated into Spanish for him, he faces no more than 20 years in prison. He would have faced a minimum of 10 years to life. When he gets out of prison, he’ll be deported.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Feith said the plea agreement does not call for Gutierrez-Guzman to testify against others, including Joaquin Guzman if the drug lord is ever extradited to the U.S.

Joaquin Guzman escaped prison in 2001 and ran the enterprise from a series of hideouts and safe houses across Mexico, earning billions of dollars moving tons of cocaine and other drugs to the United States, prosecutors have said. He has been indicted in numerous states besides New Hampshire.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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