Drug lord could get money for seized jewelry, lawyer says

McALLEN - A convicted Reynosa drug boss could receive some compensation for jewelry seized during his arrest last year.

Lawyers representing Carlos Landín Martinez - a 52-year-old former Tamaulipas state police commander alleged to have once been second-in-command of the Gulf Cartel's operations in Reynosa - said Friday that they are close to working out a deal with prosecutors that would allow their client to keep one of the items or proceeds from their sale at auction.

"If he's going to get some of the proceeds at all, he'd rather have his jewelry back," his attorney Eric Jarvis said.

Federal authorities took an elaborate, jewel-inlaid religious icon and a gold chain Landín was wearing July 14 when U.S Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested him while he was shopping for watermelons at an H.E.B. supermarket in McAllen

After his conviction on drug trafficking, conspiracy and money laundering charges in January, U.S. attorneys began criminal forfeiture proceedings. Prosecutors allege the jewelry, valued at more than $12,000, was purchased with drug proceeds.

But Landín's attorneys argue the 10-karat gold pendant of St. Jude, decorated with 128 diamonds, 36 emeralds and a ruby, and the 14-karat gold chain had personal significance to their client.

A status hearing on the forfeiture scheduled for Friday was postponed while lawyers for both sides continued to work out an agreement.

U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced Landín to life in prison last month. He faces five other counts of drug trafficking and conspiracy in a separate case set for trial this summer.

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Jeremy Roebuck covers courts and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4437.