NEW YORK (AP) — A former state governor of Mexico has pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder millions of dollars in cocaine bribe payments.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said 64-year-old Mario Ernesto Villanueva Madrid pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy Thursday in federal court. Authorities say Madrid conspired to launder the money from the Juarez Cartel through bank accounts in the U.S. and other countries.

Bharara said the Juarez Cartel is one of Mexico's most violent cocaine cartels.

Madrid is the former governor of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. He was extradited from Mexico in 2010.

Madrid faces up to 20 years in prison and will be sentenced on Oct. 26.