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Portrait of Édgar Valdez Villarreal

Photo: U.S. Government · Public domain

Born in United States · Nationalities Mexican, American — Crime / mafias / terrorism / criminal cases

Édgar Valdez Villarreal

Organised crime and cartels

Documented profile covering 9 controversies, including “2022–2023: temporary disappearance from public BOP register followed by reappearance in federal custody” and “11 June 2018: 49 years and one month in prison and forfeiture of 192 million dollars”.

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Profile No. 2646 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Édgar Valdez Villarreal

Photo: U.S. Government · Public domain
9Documented controversies
10Sources
1 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

Case · 7 documented stages

2022–2023: temporary disappearance from public BOP register followed by reappearance in federal custody

Conviction
01

2022-11–2023-02

2022–2023: temporary disappearance from public BOP register followed by reappearance in federal custody

Conviction

In late November 2022, the Federal Bureau of Prisons no longer listed Valdez as being in its custody, prompting requests for clarification from the Mexican government and widespread speculation. In February 2023, he reappeared in federal custody records, with a projected release date in the 2050s.

State of the evidence
Documented

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    El PaísMexico asks US for answers as notorious drug lord ‘La Barbie’ vanishes from federal prison systemPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Laredo Morning TimesLaredo-born drug lord 'La Barbie' back in federal custodyPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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02

2018-06-11

11 June 2018: 49 years and one month in prison and forfeiture of 192 million dollars

Conviction

A federal judge in Atlanta sentenced Valdez Villarreal to 49 years and one month in prison, followed by ten years of supervised release, and ordered forfeiture of 192 million dollars for the cocaine trafficking and money laundering offences to which he had pleaded guilty.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice — Northern District of GeorgiaMexican cartel leader Edgar Valdez-Villareal, a/k/a “La Barbie,” sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and money launderingOfficial statementPrimary source

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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03

2016-01-06–2016-05-13

January–May 2016: guilty pleas in Georgia and Louisiana

Conviction

In January 2016, Valdez pleaded guilty in Atlanta to conspiracy to import and distribute cocaine and to money laundering. In May, he also pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking charges in Louisiana, linked in particular to a 33 kg shipment in 2001.

State of the evidence
Admitted by the person
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice — Northern District of GeorgiaMexican Cartel Leader Edgar Valdez-Villareal, A/K/A “La Barbie,” Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Money LaunderingOfficial statementPrimary source
  2. [2]
    U.S. Department of Justice — Eastern District of LouisianaMexican Cartel Leader Edgar Valdez-Villareal Pleads Guilty to Cocaine TraffickingOfficial statementPrimary source

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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04

2015-09-30

30 September 2015: extradition from Mexico to United States

Formally charged

Mexico extradited Édgar Valdez Villarreal to the United States alongside twelve other defendants. He was transferred to face, in particular, the Atlanta federal charges concerning cocaine importation and money laundering.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice — Northern District of GeorgiaMexican Cartel Leaders Edgar Valdez-Villarreal and Carlos Montemayor Gonzalez Extradited to the United StatesOfficial statementPrimary source

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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06

2010-06-11

11 June 2010: federal indictment in Atlanta and US reward

Formally charged

A federal grand jury in Atlanta indicted Édgar Valdez Villarreal and several associates for importing and distributing thousands of kilograms of cocaine between 2004 and 2006. The Department of State offered up to 2 million dollars for information leading to his capture.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice — Northern District of GeorgiaAlleged Drug Kingpin Edgar Valdez-Villarreal, Known as “La Barbie,” Indicted by Grand Jury in AtlantaOfficial statementPrimary source
  2. [2]
    U.S. Department of StateNarcotics Rewards Program: Edgar Valdez-VillarrealOfficial documentPrimary source

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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07

2010-08-30

30 August 2010: arrested in Mexico and criminal proceedings opened

Formally charged

Mexican federal police arrested Valdez Villarreal in the State of Mexico with several associates. He subsequently remained detained in Mexico, where proceedings were pursued before his extradition to the United States.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    La JornadaCae La Barbie; versión de que sería testigo protegido de la DEAPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Department of Justice — Northern District of GeorgiaMexican Cartel Leaders Edgar Valdez-Villarreal and Carlos Montemayor Gonzalez Extradited to the United StatesOfficial statementPrimary source

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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08

2000–2006

2000–2006: rise of large-scale cocaine trafficking to United States

Conviction

US court documents describe Valdez's rise from marijuana distribution in Laredo to regular shipments of 150 to 180 kg of cocaine, then loads reaching 300 kg to several US cities. In Atlanta alone, his organisation distributed approximately 1,500 kg in six months in 2005.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice — Northern District of GeorgiaMexican Cartel Leader Edgar Valdez-Villareal, A/K/A “La Barbie,” Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Money LaunderingOfficial statementPrimary source
  2. [2]
    U.S. Department of Justice — Northern District of GeorgiaMexican cartel leader Edgar Valdez-Villareal, a/k/a “La Barbie,” sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and money launderingOfficial statementPrimary source

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

05

December 2009–August 2010

2009–2010: succession struggle with Héctor Beltrán Leyva after Arturo's death

No legal proceedings

Following Arturo Beltrán Leyva's death, Valdez led a faction rival to Héctor Beltrán Leyva's, and the two sides fought for control of the organisation, contributing to a series of violent incidents in central Mexico.

State of the evidence
Well documented

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles TimesMexican authorities arrest alleged drug lord 'La Barbie'PressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    La JornadaCae La Barbie; versión de que sería testigo protegido de la DEAPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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09

années 2000

2000s: role as enforcer and armed leader in Sinaloa/Beltrán Leyva structures

No legal proceedings

US authorities described Valdez as an enforcer and subsequently an important leader within the Sinaloa and Arturo Beltrán Leyva structures, using armed groups and corruption to protect trafficking routes.

State of the evidence
Documented

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of StateNarcotics Rewards Program: Edgar Valdez-VillarrealOfficial documentPrimary source
  2. [2]
    U.S. Department of Justice — Northern District of GeorgiaMexican cartel leader Edgar Valdez-Villareal, a/k/a “La Barbie,” sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and money launderingOfficial statementPrimary source

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

  • Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
  • Line width: number of documented references
  • Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (2)
  1. Arturo Beltrán Leyva1 documented reference
  2. Héctor Beltrán Leyva1 documented reference

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