“Socalj” for Borderland Beat
Prosecutors have sought to present evidence and testimonies about alleged bribery to Mexican media, such as the newspaper El Universal owned by Ealy Ortiz. |
According to the testimony of Héctor Villarreal Hernández, former Secretary of Finance for the State of Coahuila, Genaro García Luna allegedly arranged with Francisco Ealy Ortiz, owner of the newspaper El Universal so that, in exchange for a monthly payment of 25 million pesos, the news outlet would help him with positive coverage to counter news reports linking him to drug cartels and his alleged kidnapping in 2008.
An advertising invoice retained by Villarreal Hernandez and turned over following his arrest in 2014 recorded a payment listed as being for payment is for a “Tourism Rescue Campaign.” |
“(García Luna) told former Governor Humberto Moreira that he needed his support, he asked him if he knew directly the people from the newspaper El Universal, to which the governor answered yes if he needed anything, he would just let him know,” stated the former Coahuila finance secretary. “García Luna told him that there were certain rumors in the press that he had been kidnapped (by Arturo Beltrán Leyva on October 19, 2008) and related him to drug trafficking characters.”
What did Garcia Luna ask of the former PRI governor? Reid questioned.
If there was a way for him to approach El Universal so that it would be known that all the rumors were not true, how could he approach El Universal?… The governor replied that without any problem he would speak with Francisco Ealy Ortiz, the owner,” Villarreal Hernández continued.
The prosecution presented as evidence a photograph of said event in which Moreira is seen hugging Ealy Ortiz in the company of other people. |
Villarreal voluntarily turned himself into authorities in El Paso, Texas, after being released on bail in Mexico in 2012. The United States accuses him of money laundering. If found guilty, he would be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and fined $66 million. The ruling is scheduled for April 2023. Villarreal, who could be deported to Mexico, is seeking asylum in the US.
Responses from El Universal & AMLO
Garcia Luna Could Testify in His Defense
An appeal by García Luna’s lawyers reveals the possibility that the former Mexican official will testify in his defense next week. “Letter of motion to exclude certain cross-examination by Genaro García Luna,” reads the description of the document.
Cartel Accountant Israel Ávila
Continuing with the trial against Genaro García Luna is the testimony of Israel Ávila, the alleged accountant for Guerrero drug trafficker Mario Pineda Villa, alias “MP” or “Gordo Malo”. In his testimony, Israel Ávila stated that as an accountant for the cartel, he recorded payments totaling more than $10 million. These payments would have been made as payments for protection and information.
In charge of the accounting for the Beltrán Leyva faction in 2006, Ávila added that other payments were made to García Luna that ranged from $3 million, $1 million, and $1.8 million and that he recorded in the payroll corresponding to bribery of public officials.
“I once personally gave $500,000 in cash to the Secretary of Public Security for the state of Morelos, (Luis Ángel) Cabeza de Vaca,” Ávila noted in reference to payments by the Beltrán Leyva brothers for state-level officials.
“They sent Francisco Camacho, my compadre, in charge of the security of the Pineda Villa brothers, to pick up García Luna on a road in Cuernavaca… he did it and they even gave him a house as a gift for having done that,” said the accountant.
“In 2008 (October) ‘El Grande’ carried out an operation in Mexico City with some government officials and drug traffickers when Mr. ‘Rey’ Zambada was arrested… I was with Mario Pineda and on the radio, we heard that the government wanted to change ‘Rey’ Zambada another to release him. Mario Pineda asked me to speak to a journalist who worked for the Beltrán Leyva family and to notify him of the arrest and notify other journalists. I spoke to the journalist and they could no longer change it,” Ávila explained. Prosecutor Reid did not disclose the identity of the journalist who allegedly worked for the Beltrán Leyva during the war between the factions of the Sinaloa Cartel.
In his testimony, the DEA agent stated that Sergio Villarreal Barragán, “El Grande” sought him out before his arrest to give him information about García Luna’s ties to organized crime. Miguel Madrigal testified that drug traffickers and officials met in the Champs Élysées restaurant across from the US Embassy in Mexico on Paseo de la Reforma to receive bribes.
Significant Witness
Based on the amount of evidence and witness list provided during pre-trial hearings; Luna’s defense attorney Cesar de Castro believed the trial would last several months. However, Judge Cogan has encouraged prosecutors to keep the trial going as expeditiously as possible. So far, the Prosecutor’s Office has called 25 people to testify against García Luna. Although at first there was talk of a list of 70 witnesses.
They have announced in a court filing that the prosecution plans to wrap up their case next week, leaving defense witnesses and closing arguments still to go. Prosecutor Breon Peace requested that the court adjourn early after the 4 witnesses were heard on February 8, 2023, in order to prepare for the next ‘significant’ witness that could have logistical issues.
Likely, the next witness is to be highly protected due to alleged death threats that Luna made last year against potential witnesses and journalists. And could be a prisoner themselves which involves more resources than other witnesses.
It makes sense to have the most impactful witnesses towards the latter part of the trial to stay fresh in the minds of jurors. Having started off the trial against Luna for drug trafficking and accepting bribes, with insightful testimony from Sergio “El Grande” Villarreal. The list of potential witnesses that have not been heard yet is dwindling but does include Jesus “El Rey” Zambada who had testified against “El Chapo.”
Another witness who had previously claimed that Luna received bribes is Edgar “La Barbie” Valdez-Villarreal. “La Barbie” was recently removed from BOP Prison Custody and, as first discovered by Borderland Beat, was listed as such on their BOP Inmate Locator. The timing and history of Villarreal and Luna bring about a likely conclusion that he will testify.
Sources Proceso, Riodoce, La Silla Rota, Proceso, Keegan Hamilton, Milenio, El Universal, El Universal, El Universal