'El Italiano' Pleads Guilty In Connection To Boat Cocaine Bust

BOSTON – A man with at least three aliases pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston Friday in connection with drug charges related to trafficking more than 1,500 kilos of cocaine on board maritime vessels, the DEA and the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

To put that amount of cocaine into perspective, that's more than a ton and a half of cocaine.

Gabriele Biondo, 43, who also goes by "El Italiano," and "Caballero" or "Perla" pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five kilograms (11 pounds) or more of cocaine on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of five kilograms or more of cocaine on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

Biondo is an Italian national who was extradited to the United States from Spain. He is the second defendant to plead guilty in this case. Charges remain pending against two co-defendants, and another co-defendant remains at large.

The conspiracy and distribution charges each provide for a sentence of no greater than life in prison, a life term of supervised release and a $10 million fine.

The New England division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshal for the state, the Colombian National Police, the Spanish Guardia Civil and the Portuguese Air Force helped in the case, according to the U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling's office.

'El Italiano' Connected To 1,500 Kilos Cocaine On Boats

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).