No Plea Deal Yet for Rafael Caro Quintero in Brooklyn: Prosecutors Say They Will Widen the Time Frame of One Charge in the ‘Kiki’ Camarena Case — Trial Still Set for March 8, 2027
Rafael Caro Quintero, the 73-year-old trafficker accused of the 1985 killing of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, walked out of a federal courtroom in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, still without a plea deal. At the same hearing, prosecutors said they would broaden the time frame of one of the counts against him, La Razón de México reported.
What happened in court
La Razón reported that the hearing before U.S. District Judge Frederic Block lasted about 15 minutes. According to the outlet, prosecutors said they would extend the period covered by one of the alleged crimes. They did not say which count or which dates would be added. La Razón said the change does not mean new charges. Caro Quintero kept his not-guilty plea.
La Razón said prosecutor Francisco Navarro and defense lawyer Elizabeth Macedonio both confirmed that talks continue, but the Justice Department has not made a formal offer. Excélsior quoted Block as saying the two sides “siguen explorando la posibilidad” (are still exploring the possibility) that Caro Quintero will change his plea. El Universal’s headline described “avances sustantivos” (substantive progress) in the negotiations. Excélsior reported that his nephew, Ismael Quintero Arellanes, a co-defendant in the case, also appeared. Outlets spelled his surname differently.
The charges and the jury fight
According to La Razón, the charges are running a continuing criminal enterprise, two international drug-distribution conspiracies and a firearms count, and the case accuses him of taking part in Camarena’s kidnapping, torture and murder in Guadalajara in February 1985. The Justice Department dropped its bid for the death penalty in August 2025, but he still faces possible life in prison. Prosecutors have asked for an anonymous, partly sequestered jury, citing the risk of intimidation. La Razón reported that the defense objects, saying the measures could make him look guilty. El Universal said no ruling had been made. The FBI has described him as a member of the Sinaloa Cartel.
What comes next
La Razón reported that defense motions are due by Dec. 18 and the government’s response by Jan. 22, with final replies due by Feb. 5. The next in-person hearing is Nov. 20, and the trial remains set for March 8, 2027, unless a deal is reached first.
Milenio’s video report on the hearing and the plea talks:
Sources
- La Razón de México (Elizabeth Hernández), “EU ampliará acusación contra Caro Quintero; sigue sin acuerdo de culpabilidad,” Oct. 14, 2026
- Excélsior (Eridani Salazar), “Rafael Caro Quintero comparece en corte de Nueva York; mantiene negociaciones con fiscales,” Oct. 14, 2026
- El Universal, “Caro Quintero comparece ante corte en Nueva York; hay ‘avances sustantivos’ en la negociación, pero aún no hay acuerdo,” Oct. 14, 2026
- Photos: Cuartoscuro, via El Universal; FBI, via Wikimedia Commons; video: Milenio
Reported Oct. 14, 2026, from the outlets above. The Narco Blog did not review court filings. Caro Quintero has pleaded not guilty, has not been convicted and is presumed innocent.