A U.S. judge designated
the drug corruption trial of former top Mexican security official Genaro Garcia
Luna as "complex" on Tuesday, raising expectations for slow-moving
proceedings as he set the next court date for April 2.
The arrest of Garcia
Luna in Dallas last month sent shockwaves across Mexico, where he spearheaded
the country's "War On Drugs" for many years beginning in 2006.
Federal Judge Brian
Cogan in New York granted U.S. prosecutors' request to declare the trial
"complex," which effectively waives the need to bring a person to
trial within 70 days once they have been indicted, as stipulated under the U.S.
Speedy Trial Act.
U.S. prosecutors allege
Garcia Luna, 51, took millions of dollars in bribes from the Sinaloa drug
cartel, once run by ruthless kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, to
help it operate with impunity in Mexico.
Garcia Luna pleaded not
guilty earlier this month at a hearing in a federal court in Brooklyn, but his
lawyers had indicated he may be in talks to change his plea.
Cogan set the next case
status conference for April 2, according to John Marzulli, a spokesman for U.S.
Attorney's office.
"There is
voluminous amounts of evidence in the case, voluminous documents, and some of
those documents are classified, so the case was declared complex,"
Marzulli said. Garcia Luna's defense lawyers did not object to the case
designation, he added.
Charges against Garcia
Luna include drug trafficking conspiracy and making false statements, and he
faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Garcia Luna was living
in Florida before his arrest. It has been an embarrassment for former Mexican
President Felipe Calderon, who was a close ally, but also former U.S.
anti-narcotics officials who had praised Garcia Luna's efforts and worked
closely with him.
Garcia Luna led
Mexico's Federal Investigation Agency from 2001 to 2005 and was secretary of
public security from 2006 to 2012 during Calderon's six-year presidency.
According to court
papers, the Sinaloa cartel bribed Garcia Luna throughout his time in government
to ensure safe passage for its drugs, and obtain information about rival
cartels and Mexican probes into its activities.
Luna should of quit when he was ahead. They Americans will lock him in prison so long he will want to take his own life.
ReplyDeleteMakes you think if the current secretary of security Durazno Montano, is also getting bribes? He knew which cartel killed the LeBron family members but was to afraid to say the cartel group.
DeleteHe definitely should of quit while he was ahead. He is one of those assholes who thinks he is above the law😄 Maybe in Mexico but this ain't Mexico. The U.S don't fuck around when it indicts a person. It don't give a shit who he was over there. He better take whatever plea he's offered otherwise he'll be playing handball and eating ramen noodle soups from commissary with his compadre Chapo😄😄😄
DeleteDurazo's sons is also the one that went to school with Ovidio
DeleteMontano is on their payroll, they have protection of Amlo
ReplyDeleteOnce the Americans have you, its game over!
ReplyDeleteThis is the result of Chapo going on trial!
ReplyDeleteHad they let Chapo get a plea deal - like almost all other capos - then this little friend of ours would not have been touched.
But don't worry: Trump will pardon him on his last day in office.