U.S. charges Nicaraguan national and 5 others for attempting to provide weapons to Colombian terrorists

U.S. charges Nicaraguan national and 5 others for attempting to provide weapons to Colombian terrorists

2011-01-13 11:27:45 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIAMI (BNO NEWS) - A Nicaraguan national and five members of his drug and weapons smuggling organization were charged in the United States on Wednesday for attempting to provide weapons to a terrorist organization, prosecutors said.

McField-Bent, who is charged with four counts of conspiring and attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization and three counts of narcotics charges, was arrested in Barranquilla, Colombia on October 8, 2010. Also charged and arrested in Colombia were co-defendants Jeison Archibold, 29, a Colombian national, Miguel Villela, 54, a Honduran national, Juan Carlos Cuao Camacho, 40, a Colombian national, Fausto Aguero Alverado, 38, a Honduran national, and Edwin Rodriguez Leon, 28, a Colombian national.

McField-Bent and others allegedly attempted to provide grenade launchers, grenades, automatic rifles and other weapons to what they thought were members of the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia ("AUC"), which since 2001 has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States. The defendants, however, were dealing with undercover agents.

If convicted, the group could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for each count of conspiring to provide weapons. They also face charges for attempting to distribute cocaine knowing that it would eventually reach the United States. If convicted for three narcotics charges, the detainees could face a maximum life sentence for each of the charges, and a mandatory minimum ten year sentence on each count.

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