El Chapo lieutenant pleads guilty to drug conspiracy

A top lieutenant in the drug cartel led by Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy Wednesday in federal court in Chicago.

Jesus Raul Beltran Leon, 35, admitted his role in the sale of 46 kilograms of cocaine sold in Los Angeles between June 8 and June 10, 2013.

Beltran Leon now faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. He admitted his guilt in court after signing a written plea declaration, meaning he did not reach a deal with the government.

Sentencing in U.S. District Court was set for July 10, but it may take multiple hearings to decide his fate. Prosecutors asked for time to bring in witnesses to testify. Defense attorneys said they want that testimony to happen before the sentencing hearing.

Beltran Leon's guilty plea scuttles a trial set for next month that appeared to be on track until last week, when Wednesday's hearing was announced. It would have followed a three-month blockbuster trial in Brooklyn that ended earlier this year with the conviction of "El Chapo," the infamous Sinaloa kingpin.

Guzman now likely faces a lengthy, if not permanent, visit to the federal supermax prison in Florence, Colorado.

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