Ecuadorian drug trafficker “Fito” negotiates a plea deal with the U.S.

Ecuadorian drug trafficker José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias “Fito“, is negotiating a plea agreement with the United States Government, his lawyer, Alexei Schacht, reported this Friday upon leaving the federal court in New York where the leader of the criminal group Los Choneros is accused. Fito is charged in the U.S. with seven counts, including conspiracy to distribute cocaine internationally with links to the Sinaloa Cartel, use of firearms, and firearms smuggling. “Yes, I am in contact with the Government (of the U.S.) and obviously if possible, I will try to get a good deal for my client, but it is still impossible. I need a few more months,” said Schacht in response to questions from the press after a procedural hearing in which Villamar appeared with a completely renewed look. The defense attorney added that he has “a lot of experience with the prosecutors in this drug trafficking and international terrorism unit” and that he is “optimistic” about it: “It’s possible,” Schacht summarized in Spanish. Fito, at the time the most wanted man by the Daniel Noboa government, looked much thinner this Friday, with no trace of his bushy beard and short brown hair. Judge Frederick Bloc, with the approval of the parties, set Villamar’s next hearing for January 22, 2026 at 11:30. “It’s not cancer” Among other things, Schacht also requested that the maximum security measures weighing on his client be relaxed, as he “can’t even receive mail”, but above all because he has “insufficient medical care”. “He has a couple of problems (health-related), it’s not cancer but he has a couple of problems,” said the lawyer, who answered with a “no” when asked if he is being provided with medication. Villamar “doesn’t know President Petro”
On the other hand, rumors were also circulating that Fito met with the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, during an official visit to Ecuador; an extreme that was flatly rejected by Schacht.

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“The reality is that my client does not know President Petro. I read the press but this is not true (…) He was in prison for about twelve years and then in the basement of a house where he did not have meetings (with Petro),” he stated. Fito was caught in June inside an underground bunker built under a house on the outskirts of Manta (southwest of the country), his native coastal town and stronghold of Los Choneros. At the end of July, he accepted his extradition to the U.S. due to the risk of being the target of a possible attack by other gangs within the maximum-security prison known as La Roca.