Ecuadorean Gang Leader “Fito” to Plead Not Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, widely known as “Fito” and the leader of Ecuador’s notorious Los Choneros gang, is set to appear in a U.S. federal court in Brooklyn on Monday to plead not guilty to international charges of drug and weapons trafficking. His lawyer, Alexei Schacht, confirmed the scheduled court appearance and stated that Macias would be held in an undisclosed prison facility afterward.

Macias, who was serving a 34-year sentence in Ecuador for a series of violent crimes, escaped from prison last year and was recaptured only last month. On Sunday, he was transferred from an Ecuadorean prison and handed over to U.S. authorities. Although neither the U.S. nor Ecuadorean governments have officially confirmed the extradition, flight data indicated that a U.S. government plane departed from Guayaquil shortly after 2 p.m. local time.

The U.S. Department of Justice has accused Macias of directing Los Choneros in committing violent acts against law enforcement, politicians, prosecutors, and civilians. Ecuadorian officials have long warned of the gang’s extensive influence over the country’s prison system, which is plagued by corruption and overcrowding. The extradition aligns with recent public support in Ecuador for tougher crime measures, including a referendum backing extradition, spearheaded by President Daniel Noboa.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright