Drug lord to keep some proceeds from jewelry sale

McALLEN - A convicted Reynosa drug boss will not reclaim an elaborate, jewel-inlaid religious icon seized during his arrest last year.

But he won't walk away empty-handed, either.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa ruled this week that Carlos Landín Martinez, 53, can keep 20 percent of the proceeds his jewelry receives at auction.

The 10-karat gold pendant of St. Jude - decorated with 128 diamonds, 36 emeralds, and one ruby - and a 14-karat gold chain that was also seized are valued at more than $12,000.

Hinojosa ordered the government to sell the pieces for at least $3,036 - so Landín's cut could be anywhere from $600 to $2,400.

The other 80 percent will go to the U.S. Department of Justice's drug forfeiture fund, according to an agreement U.S. attorneys and Landín's defense attorneys signed.

"If it's as much as Mr. Landín can expect, he's happy," his attorney, Oscar R. Alvarez, said.

Agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration took the pendant and chain from Landín after he was arrested while shopping for watermelon at a McAllen H.E.B. on July 14, 2007.

U.S. attorneys began forfeiture proceedings against the items soon after he was convicted on drug trafficking, conspiracy and money laundering charges and sentenced to life in prison earlier this year. He has maintained his innocence in that case and is currently appealing the jury's decision.

Landín - a former Tamaulipas state police commander once believed to have been second-in-command of the Gulf Cartel's operations in Reynosa - is set to go to trial on another indictment next month.

In that case, he faces five drug trafficking and money laundering counts and could face up to a second life-sentence if convicted.

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