Cuban Mafia boss pleads guilty in federal trial

MIAMI - The man known as the godfather of the Cuban-American Mafia has pleaded guilty to charges in his federal racketeering trial because of declining health.

Jose Miguel Battle Sr., 76, could be sentenced as early as late summer for serving as the boss of "The Corporation," a crime ring that operated in New York, Florida and Latin America over four decades.

But Battle suffers from kidney and liver failure, diabetes and cardiac problems, and his lawyer says he's very sick. Battle faces from 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty April 27 to racketeering conspiracy.

"This way, he can die at home rather than in jail," said Jack Blumenfeld, Battle's attorney.

Battle, his son and four other defendants were accused of five murders, four arson attacks resulting in eight deaths, and more than $1.5-billion collected from drug trafficking, bookmaking and numbers rackets.