Honduran brothers to plead guilty in massive cocaine ring

Two Honduran brothers who ran what prosecutors describe as one of the world's largest drug trafficking organizations are set to plead guilty to criminal charges in a U.S. court.

Court records indicate plea hearings are scheduled Thursday for 43-year-old Miguel Arnulfo Valle Valle and 46-year-old Luis Alonso Valle Valle. Authorities say the Los Valles cartel was responsible for distributing of tens of thousands of kilograms of cocaine every month into the U.S.

A third brother, Jose Valle Valle, pleaded guilty to related charges Tuesday in federal court in Alexandria. Court records indicate he played a lesser role in the conspiracy, but he still faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Authorities say Honduras is a key transfer point for Colombian cocaine into Mexico and eventually the U.S.