New York ( CNN ) -- Christopher Coke , an international drug kingpin whose arrest and extradition to the United States was preceded by a horrific gun battle in Jamaica that left dozens of civilians dead , pleaded guilty on Wednesday to racketeering and assault charges . Coke , who had pleaded not guilty to the charges after his extradition last year , faces a maximum sentence of 23 years in prison with a maximum fine of $ 500,000 for two charges of racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit assault in aid of racketeering , according to the release . Coke , 42 , ran a Jamaica-based criminal organization called the Presidential Click , or Shower Posse , which had trafficked illegal weapons and drugs into New York and Miami , and to other Jamaica-area leaders , since the early 1990s , according to a release by prosecuting District Attorney Preet Bharara for the Southern District of New York . `` For nearly two decades , Christopher Coke led a ruthless criminal enterprise that used fear , force and intimidation to support its drug and arms trafficking 'businesses , ' '' U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara of Manhattan said at Wednesday 's hearing , according to the release . `` Today 's plea is a welcome conclusion to this ugly chapter of criminal history , '' Bharara added . Lead defense attorney Frank Doddato described Coke as `` stoical '' during his court appearance . Doddato said his client has continually expressed remorse . Coke 's group of Presidential Click members trafficked in narcotics , including marijuana , cocaine and crack cocaine , under Coke 's direction , according to the formal charges Bharara presented at court . Coke also was charged with overseeing the purchase and distribution of firearms among Presidential Click members . Proceeds from drug sales were sent to Coke in Jamaica , in the form of cash and/or goods , according to the charges . These included `` 'tribute ' payments , in recognition of his leaderships and his assistance , '' which could come in the form of clothing and electronics . In May 2010 , a failed attempt to arrest Coke in Kingston , Jamaica 's capital , sparked gun battles between security forces and his supporters that ended with 76 people dead , 73 of them civilians . Jamaican police apprehended Coke , who was wearing a woman 's wig , at a checkpoint . He was extradited to the United States in June 2010 , and pleaded not guilty . Following his extradition , Coke , who also had among his aliases `` Duddus , '' `` Shortman , '' `` Presi '' and `` General , '' responded said he was `` deeply upset and saddened by the unnecessary loss of lives '' in the Kingston shootout , and said the bloodshed `` could have been avoided . '' `` Everyone , the whole country , has been adversely affected by the process that has surrounded my extradition and I hope that my action today will go some way towards healing all who have suffered and will be of benefit to the community of Tivoli Gardens '' -- a neighborhood where the violence erupted . During Wednesday 's guilty plea , Doddato said the Kingston shootout was one of the reasons Coke surrendered.\ . Coke 's sentencing is scheduled for December 8 , according to the district attorney 's release .
Christopher Coke pleaded guilty to two counts in kidnapping and murder . He faces a minimum of 23 years in prison ; sentencing is set for December 8 . 76 people died in a gun battle during a failed attempt to arrest Coke in May 2010 .