As it appears that the legendary drug boss La Barbie is not currently in the custody of the United States Federal Bureau of Prisons, there is an increase in the level of confusion around his location.
It has been claimed that Édgar Valdez Villarreal, also known as La Barbie, is missing from the records of the United States Bureau of Prisons (BOP) database, despite the fact that his term is scheduled to last until 2056.
According to statements given to EL PAS by both the Mexican Attorney General’s Office and the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, they have “no knowledge of La Barbie’s legal situation.”
La Barbie drug lord goes missing
El PAS reports that the former head of a drug cartel does not appear to be in the custody of the United States Bureau of Prisons (BOP). A spokesperson for the United States Department of Corrections told the publication that there are a number of possible explanations for why an inmate might be listed as “not in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons.”
“Inmates who were previously in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons and who have not yet served their sentence may be out of custody for a period of time in order to attend court hearings, receive medical treatment, or for any number of other reasons,” according to the Bureau of Prisons.
“We do not provide specific information about the status of prisoners who are not currently in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for reasons relating to security and privacy,” the statement reads.
The United States Embassy in Mexico has also not issued a statement in an official capacity.
Who is La Barbie?
La Barbie is a Mexican-American individual who was formerly a member of the Beltrán Leyva Cartel and held a high-ranking position inside the organization.
He was given the infamous nickname “Ken Doll” by his high school football coach because of his blond hair and blue eyes, which made him look like a Ken doll. He was born and raised in the city of Laredo, Texas, and it was there that he was said to have been “very popular” in high school.
At the age of 19, the drug lord was taken into custody for the first time in Texas. He was charged with criminally negligent homicide for running over a middle school counselor with his truck while he was speeding, but he was not indicted for the crime. The incident occurred when he was driving too fast.
2010 saw the capture of the notorious drug lord.
While he was still playing linebacker for the football team at Laredo United high school, La Barbie transitioned into a career as a street drug dealer.
Prosecutors stated during his trial that he “climbed the ranks to become a high-ranking member of the Beltran Leyva gang.” This was said to have occurred during the time period when the leaders of the gang were associated with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and the Sinaloa Cartel.
The former drug lord was apprehended by Mexican authorities in August 2010, and he was one of 13 individuals who were extradited to the United States from Mexico in September 2015 in order to face charges.
In June of 2018, he was given a sentence that will put him behind bars for the next 49 years.
