ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - A man extradited to the United States from Mexico in 2015 to stand trial in a 2008 killing for a drug cartel was sentenced Friday to life plus 15 years in prison.
A state District Court judge in Albuquerque sentenced Jaime Veleta for his October convictions for first-degree murder, kidnapping, tampering with evidence and conspiracy.
Authorities said Veleta fled to Mexico after kidnapping Danny Baca from his home, killing him and leaving his burned body on a desert mesa south of Albuquerque. Baca was shot 22 times.
Baca was supposed to deliver a carload of marijuana and cocaine from Mexico to locations in New Mexico for the Juarez cartel but he instead sold some of the drugs for himself. .
Two other men pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the Baca killing.
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