BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — The nephew of the Mexican Gulf cartel's former kingpin is to continue testimony after regaling jurors with hours of details of the organized criminal outfit's operations.

Rafael Cardenas Vela is a nephew of former Gulf cartel kingpin Osiel Cardenas Guillen. He's been the star witness at the federal trial of Juan Roberto Rincon-Rincon in Brownsville.

Rincon-Rincon's lawyer is expected to begin his cross examination Tuesday.

Rincon-Rincon briefly ran one of the cartel's zones of influence on the Texas-Mexico border. The former cartel bodyguard is charged with conspiring to possess and import cocaine and marijuana.

Cardenas Vela pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and marijuana in exchange for the government dropping money laundering and immigration charges in March. He awaits sentencing.