By Genaro García Luna, once hailed as the architect of Mexico’s war on drug cartels, has been sentenced to 38 years and four months in a U.S. federal prison for accepting massive bribes from the very criminal organizations he was tasked with combating. The 56-year-old former Mexican secretary of public security was convicted by a New York jury in 2023, marking him as the highest-ranking Mexican government official ever convicted in the United States.
U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan imposed the sentence in a Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, alongside a $2 million fine. The judge dismissed García Luna’s past accolades in the war on drugs, stating, “That was your cover. You are guilty of these crimes, sir. You can’t parade these words and say, ‘I’m police officer of the year.'”
García Luna, who led Mexico’s federal police before serving as the top security official from 2006 to 2012 under then-President Felipe Calderón, maintained his innocence during the sentencing hearing. Speaking in Spanish, he claimed the case against him was based on false information from criminals and the Mexican government, asserting, “I have a firm respect for the law. I have not committed these crimes.”
Prosecutors painted a damning picture of García Luna’s activities, alleging that in exchange for millions of dollars, he provided crucial intelligence to the Sinaloa cartel about investigations, information on rival gangs, and ensured safe passage for massive drug shipments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Saritha Komatireddy emphasized the gravity of his actions, stating, “He enabled the cartel. He protected the cartel. He was the cartel.”
The prosecution detailed how García Luna’s corruption facilitated the shipment of over 1 million kilograms of cocaine into the United States using various transportation methods. They argued that his actions resulted in the deaths of thousands of American and Mexican citizens, with Komatireddy asserting, “It may not have been the defendant pulling the trigger, but he has blood on his hands.”
During the trial, evidence was presented showing García Luna’s connections to high-profile U.S. political figures, including photos of him with former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former Senator John McCain. These images underscored the extent of García Luna’s influence and the shocking nature of his betrayal.
The case against García Luna was bolstered by testimony from the 2018 trial of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, where a former cartel member claimed to have personally delivered at least $6 million in payoffs to García Luna. The witness also alleged that cartel members had agreed to pool up to $50 million for his protection.
García Luna’s defense team, led by attorney Cesar de Castro, announced their intention to appeal the sentence. De Castro emphasized the personal toll on his client, stating, “He has lost close to everything. All that remains is his wonderful family.”
The sentencing has reverberated in Mexican politics, with newly inaugurated President Claudia Sheinbaum commenting on the stark contrast between García Luna’s former accolades from U.S. agencies and ex-President Calderón, and his current status as a convicted criminal.
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