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The first month of 2024 closed with an investigation that provoked endless criticism and questions from the Mexican population. These are two journalistic reports that point to the president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador allegedly received 2 million dollars of the Sinaloa Cartel; Money earmarked for his 2006 presidential campaign. 18 years later, the question arises: What happened to those who were aware of and participated in the alleged incidents?
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According to Insight CrimeA foundation dedicated to the study and research of security in Latin America and the Caribbean that studies alleged credit agreements, data presented by Annabel Hernandez and Tim Golden. Started in 2005then Organization of the Beltran Leyva (OBL) – At that time Sinaloa will seek a meeting with representatives of the current leader of the executive – an ally of the cartel.
The meeting was held and attended in Nayarit, a hotel in Nuevo Vallarta Emilio Deep JonesA businessman with economic activities in Coahuila and Acapulco, Guerrero and Hector Francisco “Pancho” Leon Garciawho will become a candidate for senator for the PRD in Durango.
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They would be people who would later directly implicate two close associates of López Obrador: Nicholas Molinado Bastar And Mauricio Soto Caballero.
The first of them, also known as ‘Nico’, was López Obrador’s driver when he served as head of government of the Federal District. Another role would soon play out in coordinating the Tabasco native’s first presidential campaign.
This is what happened to them.
Little is known about Emilio Deep Jones. Insight Crime announced that in 2010 he was attacked by Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)for its acronym in English), which began to investigate the facts.
The businessman may have helped investigators corroborate data about the first meeting between the two parties as well as the final destination of money received from the Sinaloa cartel. after that, was published and was able to return to Mexico.
Leon Garcia, also a businessman and owner of marble mines, lost the election For which he tried to become a senator of Durango and in March 2007 he disappeared in Saltillo, Coahuila. However, his family filed a complaint about this. Till date his whereabouts are unknown.
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The following is known about two direct associates of López Obrador.
‘nico’ He worked closely with López Obrador for at least a decade. After leaving the shadow of Morena’s founder, he became the director of solid waste collection and treatment in the then Cuahtemoc delegation led by Ricardo Monreal.
He also served as Head of General Coordination of Municipal Services of the City Council of Villahermosa, Tabasco, but did not last long in office. He currently lives as a Faithful defender of the Fourth Amendment.
For his part, Mauricio Soto Caballero was briefly under the protection of US authorities. He would be one of the witnesses who confirmed the later events Sign the application and cooperation agreement.
He is currently a member of the official party National Congress National Revival Movement (MORENA) and may have participated in the logistics of López Obrador’s presidential campaign in 2012 and 2018.
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According to the investigation, members of the Sinaloa Cartel who participated in the agreement were:
1. Edgar Valdez Villarreal, aka ‘La Barbie’
He Drug dealer Born in the United States, he served as one of the main partners of OBL leader Arturo Beltran Leyva, ‘El Barbas’. He was arrested on August 30, 2010 and extradited to United States territory on September 30, 2015.
He pleaded guilty to drug trafficking offenses on June 11, 2018. He was sentenced to 49 years in prison His lawyers did not respond Insight Crime.
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2. Carlos Montemayor Gonzalez, ‘El Charro’
Father-in-law of ‘La Barbie’, who took over leadership of the organization after Valdez Villarreal’s capture. He was arrested in Mexico City November 23, 2010.
Like his son-in-law, he was extradited to the U.S. in 2011 and released there. Convicted of money laundering and drug trafficking. He is currently serving a 34-year sentence in federal prison.
3. Sergio Villarreal Barragan, aka ‘El Grande’
The one-time Mexican federal police officer was arrested by the Navy on September 13, 2010, and extradited to the United States in 2012 on charges of drug trafficking, criminal organization, and money laundering.
He was released from federal prison in 2019According to US prison records.
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4. Roberto Lopez Najera, ‘Jennifer’
This is the person who allegedly announced the contract. was Representative of ‘La Barbie’.
His whereabouts are currently unknown, the last thing we know is that he entered the witness protection program in the United States.
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