Dominican Drug Lord Called 'The Abuser' Pleads Guilty To Drug Trafficking Charges In US Federal Court

Authorities said Monday that César Emilio Peralta Adamez, known as “The Abuser,” pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges.

The powerful drug lord from the Dominican Republic pled guilty in U.S. federal court, reported the Associated Press. Adamez was accused of importing cocaine into the U.S. for a decade, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Puerto Rico said.

The drug trafficking approximately happened between 2007 through June 2017. He helped in importing five kilograms (11.023 pounds) or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine into America. Adamez was the leader of a transnational criminal organization (TCO) based in his country. Authrorities said that the TCO transported multi-ton shipments of cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela. They took the drugs to Puerto Rico and the continental United States.

As part of the court proceedings, he also entered a guilty plea for count one of an indictment. It stemmed from the Southern District of Florida (SDFL) which was transferred to the District of Puerto Rico for sentencing purposes. In SDFL, the drug lord was charged with distribution of cocaine for purpose of unlawful importation. In 2018, he was indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury. He was arrested in Colombia in 2019 and extradited to Puerto Rico last year.

“This conviction demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. He added that they will continue to maximize their "multi-agency efforts to bring to justice those who disregard our laws and smuggle drugs into Puerto Rico and the continental United States.”

According to authorities, Adamez agreed to forfeit four properties and one business in the Dominican Republic that were controlled by him. They include Flow Gallery Lounge in Santo Domingo; La Koura Club in Santo Domingo; Aqua Club, in Santo Domingo and Al Panino, in Santo Domingo.

The prosecution was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). It identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten America. They use a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven and multi-agency approach.

As for Adamez, he faces a possible sentence of 10 years and up to life in jail. He is expected to be sentenced on May 5, 2023. His lawyer could not be reached for comment, reported US News And World Report.