Notorious ex Dominican Army Capt. set free in NYC

Santo Domingo.- Former Dominican Army Capt. Quirino Paulino has reportedly been released in the U.S. where he’ll stay for six months, living in New York City, and has kept its own identity, local media report.

Radio station Z101FM cites journalist Carlos Peña as their source, who in turn quoted "reliable sources."

Paulino’s local attorney Freddy Castillo also confirmed the report of his release.

According to Peña the former Captain, who was arrested December 18, 2004, with 1,387 kilos of cocaine, would get back RD$625.0 million in assets which had been seized.

The former officer, native of western Elias Piña province, was extradited to the United States nine years ago and charged with drug trafficking and money laundering in NY federal court.

At the end of last year Paulino’s defense team had said they expected their client’s release as early as this year.

The U.S. Witness Protection Program had taken in a record 19 of Paulino’s relatives and associates, as part of his plea bargaining deal.