Purported associate of “El Chapo” sentenced to 19 years in prison

A U.S. judge has sentenced a purported associate of Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán to 19 years in prison for coordinating the deliveries of heroin and cocaine to Chicago.

Tomás Arévalo Rentería apologized at Wednesday's sentencing in Chicago. The 46-year-old told Judge Rubén Castillo, "I know that I must pay for my mistakes."

Castillo said he didn't factor Guzmán's notoriety in calculating Rentería's punishment. He called Guzmán the "ultimate head of this beast."

Prosecutors wanted a 25-year term for Rentería. The defense said that would be too stiff for someone not at the top of the Sinaloa cartel's command.

Guzmán's named in the same indictment. Prosecutors have indicated they would like him extradited to Chicago. Mexican authorities captured Guzmán last year, but he escaped and remains at large.