A former Venezuelan judge, arrested last year by U.S. authorities on the way to a Disney World vacation, was sentenced Monday to more than six years in prison for his role in a major cocaine trafficking case linked to the government of former President Hugo Chavez.
Benny Palmeri-Bacchi, 46, pleaded guilty in November to charges of extortion, conspiracy to obstruct justice and money laundering conspiracy. The sentence was almost a year longer than recommended by U.S. prosecutors, which U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro said was necessary to reflect the seriousness of the crimes.
