Guatemala bishop's killer built empire in prison; charged with organized crime

Published January 08, 2015

A Guatemalan army captain sentenced to 20 years in prison for the slaying of a bishop has been charged with money laundering and organized crime.

Prosecutors say Byron Lima built an illicit business empire in prison by extorting money from other inmates in return for favors like allowing prohibited cellphones.

Prosecutors said Wednesday that national prison system director Sergio Camargo received money from Lima. Camargo has also been charged.

Lima allegedly had campaign T-shirts printed for the 2011 election of President Otto Perez.

A U.N. commission employee who was not authorized to be quoted by name said Wednesday that Lima "sold privileges" in prison.

Lima was sentenced in 2006 along with three other men for the 1998 killing of Roman Catholic Bishop Juan Jose Gerardi.

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