Illinois man admits trafficking heroin from Mexico by bus
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A suburban Chicago man authorities say is linked to the Guerrero Unidos Mexican cartel has pleaded guilty to federal drug charges.
Alexander Figueroa of Aurora admitted Thursday to participating in a scheme to sell and transport heroin from Mexico using commercial passenger buses. Authorities say the buses were kept at Chicago-area warehouses so they could be loaded with drug proceeds for return to Mexico.
Other people charged in the scheme include Figueroa's brother-in-law, Pablo Vega Cuevas, who the U.S. Attorney's office alleges leads the Chicago-area cell connected to Guerrero Unidos. Mexican prosecutors blame the drug cartel for the disappearance of 43 students in 2014.
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Under Thursday's plea agreement, Figueroa agreed to cooperate in other cases and could face up to a 14-years prison sentence. His attorney didn't return messages Thursday.