Alfredo Beltran Leyva, "MOCHOMO" Sentencing aid

“There is no denying that the offense of conviction is considered to be serious and dangerous. However, the offense itself should not drive the sentence imposed in this case, at least not in the unbalanced way the Government seeks. Mr. Beltrán Leyva is a 45-year old father of ten children, one of whom (Santiel)was kidnapped in 2010 and is now presumed dead. He was born in abject poverty in La Palma, Sinaloa, Mexico. La Palma is part of the “Golden Triangle,” known as a major producer of opium and marijuana. Since his childhood, Mr. Beltrán Leyva has been surrounded by narcotics trafficking. Most people in his town grew marijuana and opium, as did his oldest brother,Arturo. Arturo was the undisputed leader of what the government terms the Beltran-Leyva DTO until his death in 2009. Arturo was the oldest brother and Mr. Beltrán Leyva the youngest. 

In fact, Arturo was like a father figure for him and Mr. Beltrán Leyva did anything for his older brother. Unfortunately, he got an early start in the family business. With his guilty plea, Mr. Beltrán Leyva admitted that he had worked for his brother Arturo and conspired to commit the charged offense.
 Mr. Beltrán Leyva’s activities have not only caused him tremendous loss and pain(including loss of freedom and the deaths of his brother and son), but also have greatly affected his children and extended family and caused tremendous upheaval that would be exacerbated by a life sentence, especially since he also faces a lengthy prison sentence in Mexico, where he was arrested in January 200839 for charges relating to his involvement in a narcotics conspiracy with his brother Arturo.”