Glamour wives of drug twins who took down El Chapo to be jailed
Two wives of twin drug cartel members are set to be jailed after they pleaded guilty to stashing away millions in drug profits.
Vivianna Lopez, 42, and Valerie Gaytan, 47, admitted to a count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, the US Attorney's office confirmed.
Last year, US District Judge Matthew Kennelly decided neither woman would have immunity from prosecution.
Lopez, also known as 'Mia Flores', and Gaytan, known as 'Olivia Flores' are the wives of Pedro and Margarito Flores.
Both men were part of the Sinaloa drug cartel and the twins operated a distribution cell in the city of Chicago.
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Their crimes saw them distribute hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and massive amounts of heroin every month to other cities such as Cincinnati, Columbus, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Vancouver, and Washington DC, according to prosecutors.
Margarito Flores (US Marshalls Service)
Pedro Flores (US Marshalls Service)The brothers began cooperating with authorities in 2008 as a case was built up against infamous kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera.
Prosecutors said Lopez and Gaytan began stashing the cash after their husbands began cooperating.
Gaytan handed over $4.2million (£3.3million) in drug money to the government in 2010, but not all of her stockpile was given over.
In her guilty plea, Gaytan said $2.3million (£1.85million) was hidden in furniture and sent to her brother-in-law Armando Flores’ home in Austin, Texas.
Vivianna Lopez (CNBC)The plea agreement said Armando hid the money in his back porch and paid it back to Gaytan installments of $9,000 (£7,200) every month.
Gaytan faces over 11 years behind bars, according to sentencing guidelines, though her attorney said the guidelines meant she would face about seven years in jail.
Lopez's sister Bianca Finnigan and aunt sent her money and the government says she faces at least nine years in prison for laundering $869,000 ($700,000).
Valerie Gaytan (CNBC)Both Finnigan and Armando Flores pleaded guilty to similar charges and are awaiting sentencing.
They said the pair spent $165,000 (£132,000) on private school tuition for their children, as well as nearly $100,000 (£80,000) on travel expenses, CBS reported.
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Further spending on expensive holidays and luxury cars also took place.
A third defendant, Laura Lopez, has pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
A judge warned the twins may always be looking over their shoulders after their testimony helped to being down El Chapo (Bloomberg via Getty Images)The twins have both served the relatively light sentences of 14 years they were given.
They built a significant empire and were at one point enjoying comfortable profits of $1million (£0.91million) and they told the 'Surviving El Chapo: The Twins Who Brought Down A Drug Lord' podcast that work at McDonald's helped them learn how to cope with income losses.
El Chapo, or Joaquin Guzman Loera, earned himself over $14bn (£11bn) in his career before he was eventually brought down and sentenced in 2019.
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