U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon talks about the sentencing of Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel members, twin brothers Pedro and Margarito Flores, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, in Chicago. Fardon characterized the Flores brothers cooperation as extraordinary. He says their reduced sentences, to 14 years, should illustrate to criminals that, "You can right some of what you did wrong, by helping the government." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) - Prosecutors in Chicago have announced new charges against alleged operatives with a Mexican cartel hours after two major traffickers got sharply reduced sentences for becoming informants against that cartel.
A federal judge sentenced Pedro and Margarito Flores to 14 years in prison Tuesday. Without their cooperation, the judge said they would have been given life.
U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon characterized their cooperation as extraordinary. He says their reduced sentences should illustrate to criminals that, "You can right some of what you did wrong ... by helping the government."
The Flores twins oversaw a trafficking ring that spanned North America. They began spilling secrets about the Sinaloa cartel and its leader, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, in 2008.
Most of the new charges are against already indicted cartel figures.
U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon talks about the sentencing of Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel members, twin brothers Pedro and Margarito Flores, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, in Chicago. Fardon characterized the Flores brothers cooperation as extraordinary. He says their reduced sentences to 14 years should illustrate to criminals that, "You can right some of what you did wrong, by helping the government." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon makes reference to a chart of know Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel members, during a news conference after twin brothers Pedro and Margarito Flores were sentenced to 14 years for their drug related activities in the cartel, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, in Chicago. Fardon characterized the Flores brothers cooperation in bringing down the cartel as extraordinary. He says their reduced sentences should illustrate to criminals that, "You can right some of what you did wrong, by helping the government." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon talks about the sentencing of Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel members, twin brothers Pedro and Margarito Flores, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, in Chicago. Fardon characterized the Flores brothers cooperation as extraordinary. He says their reduced sentences to 14 years should illustrate to criminals that, "You can right some of what you did wrong, by helping the government." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press
U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon makes reference to a chart of know Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel members, during a news conference after twin brothers Pedro and Margarito Flores were sentenced to 14 years for their drug related activities in the cartel, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, in Chicago. Fardon characterized the Flores brothers cooperation that helped bring down the cartel as extraordinary. He says their reduced sentences should illustrate to criminals that, "You can right some of what you did wrong, by helping the government." (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Associated Press