Carlos Landin Martinez faces 10 counts of drug trafficking, conspiracy and money laundering over alleged cartel activities from 2005 to 2007. He has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys rested Monday without calling any witnesses.
During closing arguments Monday, Landin's attorneys disclosed he also faces charges in another case, meaning no matter what verdict is handed down Landin will remain in custody.
"He's been indicted in another drug conspiracy case," said Oscar R. Alvarez, Landin's attorney. "He will remain in custody no matter what the jury decides."
Alvarez said Landin's indictment is part of a larger 29-count case involving former Las Milpas stash house manager Antonio Parra Saenz, the McAllen Monitor reported on its Web site Monday.
Parra testified last week that men working for Landin kidnapped and tortured him for 15 days in 2006 after police seized a major drug load from his house. Inside the home, officers found more than 520 pounds of cocaine, less than two ounces of methamphetamine, $40,000 in cash and a cache of bulletproof vests, guns and ammunition.
The final day of testimony included Leonardo Silva, the off-duty Drug Enforcement Administration agent who spotted Landin buying a watermelon at a McAllen supermarket.
Silva said he was stocking up for a family barbecue when he recognized Landin's face from a case file he and his agents had been preparing for two years. He said Landin appeared to have two bodyguards with him.
Eric Jarvis, another attorney for Landin, challenged Silva on the stand on the legality of his client's subsequent detainment. Jarvis said authorities had not obtained an arrest warrant before stopping Landin after he left the store.
"He happened to fall into our lap, so we had to move fast," Silva said. "You only get one shot at a person like Mr. Landin."
Landin and 13 co-defendants face multiple counts of conspiracy, narcotics smuggling and money laundering in a federal indictment issued in May.
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