‘The Engineer’ could be extradited soon

A defense attorney says a reputed security chief for Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa cartel could soon be extradited to Chicago.

Chicago-based attorney Ralph Meczyk told The Associated Press Thursday that Felipe Cabrera Sarabia’s “extradition could be imminent.” Cabrera’s nickname is “The Engineer.” He was captured in 2011.

The matter also arose at a pretrial hearing in a Chicago federal court earlier Thursday for two co-defendants in a drug-trafficking indictment that names Cabrera and 10 others.

Prosecutor Tom Shakeshaft says he also expects Cabrera’s extradition but that the timing is in the hands of Mexican authorities. Suspects already extradited to Chicago include Alfredo Vasquez Hernandez and Vicente Zambada. Fugitives in the case include Sinaloa’s reputed leader, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.