Woman, 60, only one to hold high-ranking spot in El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel, ...

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The only woman to ever hold a high-ranking position with Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán's Sinaloa Cartel has flipped on her former bosses and given 'substantial assistance' to federal investigators.

Guadalupe Fernández Valencia, 60, was sentenced by a Chicago federal court to 10 years in prison for her role as a drug smuggler with the notorious cartel - a comparatively light sentence in return for her cooperation.

Fernández Valencia broke down in tears and begged her family for forgiveness as she was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman in Chicago on Wednesday.

'I wish I could find the words to convince you of how sorry I am,' the Mexican native said through an interpreter. 'I want to take advantage of this opportunity to ask forgiveness from my children and from my family.' 

Despite the 10-year sentence, Fernández Valencia could be out in as few as three years, due to time already served and good behavior. 

Meanwhile the cartel's former kingpin El Chapo is serving a life sentence in Colorado.