The United States government formally accused the governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya, of participating in a drug trafficking network linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, in a case that also involves nine other current and former Mexican officials, including police officers, a senator and the mayor of Culiacán.
The indictment, filed by the Prosecutor’s Office for the Southern District of New York, maintains that Rocha Moya and the other defendants used their positions to protect the operations of the Sinaloa Cartel and facilitating the shipment of large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States.
All face charges of conspiracy to import narcotics and weapons-related crimes. In the case of Rocha Moya and eight other defendants, the sentences contemplate a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years in prison and up to life imprisonment.
According to the file, Rocha Moya, governor since November 2021, would have had the support of the “Chapitos” faction to come to power. The accusation states that this group, made up of children of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, kidnapped and intimidated political rivals to favor his election.
In exchange, the Prosecutor’s Office maintains, Rocha Moya promised to protect the Chapitos before and after taking office. Already as governor, he allegedly allowed them to operate with impunity in Sinaloa and held meetings with their leaders while the group expanded drug trafficking into US territory.
“The Sinaloa Cartel and other similar organizations would not operate as freely or successfully without paid corrupt politicians and law enforcement officials,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Let these accusations send a clear message to all officials around the world who collaborate with drug traffickers: regardless of their position or position, we are committed to bringing them to justice.”
The other defendants
Among the other defendants are the Mexican senator Enrique Inzunza Cázarez; the mayor of Culiacán, Juan de Dios Gámez Mendívil; the former Secretary of Public Security of Sinaloa, Gerardo Mérida Sánchez; and several former police chiefs and state officials.
The DEA maintains that the defendants performed essential functions for the prison organization: They warned about operations, shared confidential information from security forces and the Armyprotected drug shipments and guaranteed that cartel members avoided arrests or judicial proceedings.
“The Sinaloa Cartel not only traffics lethal drugs, but also uses corruption and bribery to promote violence and profit”said DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole. He added that the defendants “used their positions of trust to protect the cartel’s operations.”
violent acts
The accusation also details that some officials directly participated in violent acts.
In explicit, Former police commander Juan Valenzuela Millán, alias “Juanito,” faces additional charges of kidnapping resulting in death and conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death.after allegedly collaborating in the kidnapping, torture and murder of a confidential DEA source and a family member in 2023.
Due to those additional charges, Valenzuela Millán faces a sentence that could include life imprisonment or even the death penalty, in addition to sanctions for drug trafficking and weapons.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the ten defendants received millions of dollars in bribes in exchange for their services. One of them, The deputy prosecutor of Sinaloa, Dámaso Castro Zaavedra, would have received about $11,000 a month from the Chapitos to protect members of the group and warn them about operations with US support.
U.S. authorities believe all of the defendants currently reside in Mexico.