Luis Hernando Gómez

The first indictment issued in January 1997 in the Southern District of Virginia is on charges of Continuing Criminal Enterprise, conspiracy, firearms, and money laundering.

on March 11, 2004, Colombian police conducted raids against Gomez, stripping him of 68 farms, 24 offices and 17 parking lots as well as other items and properties, a total worth listed at over 100 million.

[1][3][5][6][7] Gomez has since admitted to managing the payroll and operations of 800 of the cartel's 6,000 workers, including several members of the Colombian Congress and also eight town mayors.

His accumulated wealth at the time of extradition included such luxuries as a Ferrari and two paintings claimed to be originals of Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens.

[8][clarification needed] On July 19, 2007 the extradition procedure began with Colombian police transporting Gomez from the Cómbita maximum security prison to be handed over to agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

[1] It is believed his testimony and personal computer will show links to political officials and police as well as expose the Colombian cocaine trade and the Norte del Valle Cartel.