SAN DIEGO -- The one-time leader of the notorious Arellano-Felixdrug cartel, who admitted ordering the murders of informants, law enforcement personnel and others, is scheduled to be sentenced Monday in federal court.

Francisco Javier Arellano-Felix, 39, pleaded guilty Sept. 17 to operating a criminal enterprise and money laundering and agreed to a sentence of life in prison without parole.

The defendant's pleas came two days after outgoing Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez decided against seeking the death penalty.

Arellano-Felix ran the AFO from 2002 until his capture in August 2006 aboard the 43-foot yacht the "Dock Holiday."

As part of his sentence, the defendant agreed to forfeit the yacht and $50 million he made from illicit drug proceeds.

One of Arellano-Felix's top lieutenants, Manuel Arturo Villareal-Heredia, also pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 7.