The petition requests to prevent García Luna’s defense from referring to the case of Salvador Cienfuegos. The general was arrested in October 2020 on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to manufacture, import and distribute narcotics to the United States, but weeks later, he was released.
“In November 2020, the United States Attorney General (William Barr) requested the annulment of the charges against Cienfuegos, which is irrelevant to this case so that the United States government dismisses the crimes against another Mexican official (García Luna), since it is a different case, the government, with all due respect, requests the Court to extend its priorities so that the proceeding against Cienfuegos is not mentioned,” the petition reads.
The other requests of the prosecutors
Federal prosecutor Breon Peace recalls in his writing that Genaro García Luna as Secretary of Public Security in Mexico used his position to help the Sinaloa Cartel. In exchange for multimillion-dollar bribes, he delivered “safe-conducts” to members of the organization to send drugs, confidential information about investigations that he had against members of the Cartel, as well as rival groups.
For the trial scheduled to take place on January 17, former high-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel are expected to testify against García Luna.
Garcia Luna is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to import cocaine, international cocaine distribution conspiracy, and falsifying statements.
Prosecutors ask the judge to prevent García Luna’s defense from presenting statements after the arrest by agents of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) because they contain rumors.
“The court should prevent the defendant from entering any other part of his post-arrest statements because they contain inadmissible rumors”, the petition reads.
