How Many Years Did Griselda Blanco Serve

4 min read Oct 08, 2024
How Many Years Did Griselda Blanco Serve

How Many Years Did Griselda Blanco Serve?

Griselda Blanco, also known as the "Black Widow" and "La Madrina," was a notorious Colombian drug lord who ruled the cocaine trade in Miami during the 1970s and 1980s. Her reign of terror involved numerous murders, including her own husband and several rivals. But how many years did Griselda Blanco serve for her crimes?

Blanco's criminal career spanned decades, and she was eventually captured and incarcerated in the United States. Her prison sentences added up to a significant amount of time, but the exact number of years served is a bit complex due to her multiple convictions and periods of release.

Understanding Blanco's Criminal History

Griselda Blanco's criminal history is a long and complicated one, filled with both legal battles and periods of freedom. She was first arrested in 1975 in New York for drug trafficking but was released on bail. She later fled to Colombia, only to be apprehended again in 1984 in Miami.

Blanco's Time in Prison

After her arrest in Miami, she was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to 10 years. However, she was released early in 1994 due to good behavior. Unfortunately, her freedom was short-lived. She was arrested again in 1995 for conspiracy to commit murder. This time, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Her Final Years and Release

In 2004, Blanco was transferred to a prison in New York to serve the remainder of her 20-year sentence. She was released on parole in 2014, after serving nearly 19 years. However, her freedom was once again cut short. Just three months later, she was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Medellín, Colombia.

The Total Years Served

Based on her prison records, Griselda Blanco served a total of nearly 20 years in prison, split between two separate sentences. While she was released on parole in 2014, her life was tragically cut short before she could fully experience freedom again.

Conclusion

Griselda Blanco's story is a complex and tragic one, marked by violence, crime, and ultimately, a life behind bars. While she may have been a formidable criminal, her crimes ultimately caught up with her. Despite her initial release in 1994, she served nearly 20 years in prison before her death in 2014. Her story serves as a reminder of the consequences of a life of crime and the long arm of justice.