Jorge Mercado Alcocer, aka "Chino," whose hearing had been postponed from last week, was denied bond Monday

Jorge Mercado Alcocer, aka "Chino," was arrested Sept. 17 in El Paso along with eight other suspected members of a group that a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration official said is linked to the Sinaloa drug cartel. Mercado, 29, whose hearing had been postponed from last week, was denied bond Monday by Magistrate Judge Norbert Garney. Mercado, who had his right foot bandaged and used crutches in court, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to smuggle and distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy to launder money. The ring, identified by the DEA as the "Jorge Mercado Drug Trafficking Organization," was allegedly responsible for smuggling more than a ton of cocaine to cities such as Chicago, Baltimore and Atlanta, a DEA agent testified in detention hearings for other suspected members. Drug proceeds were allegedly deposited out of state in Bank of America accounts and the cash would then be withdrawn in bulk a few days later at bank branches in El Paso. The DEA investigation included wire taps, surveillance and a cooperating defendant. A DEA agent testified Mercado was apparently unemployed but claimed that he was given money by his parents from apartments they own in Juarez. Following a wire-tapped phone call July 12, Mercado was stopped for a traffic violation while carrying about $31,000 in cash wrapped in green cellophane bundle, a DEA agent said.

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