Feds Lose Another Death Verdict
A Miami jury returned a life sentence against a drug dealer convicted in the murder of a federal informant.
Luis Gonzalez Lauzan, 33, was eligible for the death penalty based on findings that he killed a federal informant and used a gun in a premeditated murder. He was convicted last month in the death of Alexander Texidor, who was shot to death by a hit man in 2002, less than a month after Texidor told authorities about the gunrunning activities of Luis Gonzalez Sr.
The jurors deadlocked, and were told to continue deliberating. They came back with the life verdict 20 minutes later.
The defense said Gonzalez deserved the lesser sentence because the hit man received a life sentence and could have that sentence reduced after testifying against Gonzalez.
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