The hearing scheduled for this Thursday in the federal court of Brooklyn, which was canceled without official explanation, has been postponed to June and will take place along with another key meeting for Rafael Caro Quintero. Mark Steven DeMarco is the new attorney for the famous drug trafficker, who has 33 years of experience in New York courts and is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. As part of the New York State Bar since 1992, DeMarco also runs his own firm on East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx.
DeMarco previously held positions as an assistant district attorney in the Bronx County and a certified contract advisor for the NFL Players Association. He currently teaches at Seton Hall University School of Law and Pace University School of Law. The cancellation of Caro Quintero's hearing, initially scheduled for April 18, came just two days before it was to take place due to an apparent conflict of interest between the drug trafficker and his legal team.
Rafael Caro Quintero, 72, faces drug trafficking charges to the United States, in addition to being implicated in the murder of DEA agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena in 1985. U.S. authorities seek the death penalty for Caro Quintero, considered one of the leaders of the Guadalajara Cartel, the first drug trafficking criminal organization in Mexico. Following the investigation, Caro Quintero fled to Costa Rica, was arrested, and extradited to Mexico, where he served 28 years in prison.
The Brooklyn Court assigned Mark Steven DeMarco as the new attorney, replacing Michael Vitalino, due to a possible conflict of interest with Caro Quintero's current defense. Judge Frederic Block gave the U.S. prosecution a 90-day deadline to decide whether they will seek the death penalty for the 'narco of narcos.' Previously, the court had appointed attorney Elizabeth Macedonio to assist Caro Quintero in his defense. The recently canceled hearing was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Friday in the Federal Court of Brooklyn, with no further explanations given regarding the matter.
