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U.S. NEWS Friday 28 February 2020

Feds cite new evidence against former Mexico security chief

By JIM MUSTIAN moving to the United States has access to corrupt Mexi-
NEW YORK (AP) — New evi- with his family several years can officials," de Castro
dence against Mexico's for- ago. said. "He is not a flight risk."
mer top security official has Garcia Luna denies the Prosecutors countered
been uncovered since he charges and says he in- that Garcia Luna has "ev-
was charged with taking tends to fight them at his ery incentive" to flee pros-
tens of millions of dollars in New York City trial. His de- ecution, saying he faces a
bribes to protect Joaquin fense attorney, Cesar de mandatory minimum of 10
"El Chapo" Guzman's noto- Castro, has said the case is years behind bars on each
rious Sinaloa cartel, federal built upon the discredited of three conspiracy counts.
prosecutors said Thursday. — and self-serving — ac- "This incentive is only further
"The strength of the gov- counts of drug traffickers. amplified by the strength of
ernment's case has only in- The new details came as the government's evidence
creased" since a grand jury prosecutors asked a fed- in this case," they wrote.
indicted Genaro Garcia eral magistrate in Brooklyn U.S. Magistrate Judge Rob- In this Jan. 21, 2020 file photo, Cesar De Castro, center, attorney
Luna last year on charg- to reject Garcia Luna's re- ert M. Levy did not rule out for Genaro Garcia Luna, Mexico's former top security official, is
surrounded by reporters as he leaves Federal court in Brooklyn,
es he conspired to traffic quest to be released on $1 the possibility of Garcia in New York.
cocaine and made false million bond while awaiting Luna being released on Associated Press
statements, prosecutors trial. bond, but said he wants to
wrote in court filings. De Castro argued it would know more about the sure- fortune allowing Guzman's bada.
Prosecutors wrote they be "nearly impossible" for ties who would be on the narcotrafficking syndicate Guzman was sentenced to
have additional witnesses Garcia Luna to flee the hook financially should he to operate with impunity in life in prison last year after
that will testify Garcia Luna United States, saying he abscond before trial. Mexico. Before convicting a jury convicted him in a
"agreed to assist the Sinaloa also is under investigation Garcia Luna is accused of Guzman last year, jurors in massive drug conspiracy
Cartel in exchange for mil- in Mexico and would be ar- accepting tens of millions his New York trial heard for- involving murder and may-
lions of dollars in bribes." rested upon entering that of dollars in bribes — of- mer cartel member Jesus hem.
The testimony is corrobo- country. Garcia Luna has ten stuffed in briefcases Zambada testify that he The cartel shipped multi-
rated, the government surrendered his passport, full of cash — to shield the personally made at least $6 ton drug loads to New York
said, by newly discovered he added. Sinaloa cartel from law en- million in hidden payments and other American cities,
financial records that show "The government comes forcement. to Garcia Luna, on behalf including the federal dis-
Garcia Luna had been liv- in and says he's a flight risk Prosecutors allege that of his older brother, cartel trict covering Brooklyn and
ing off those bribes since because he's Mexican and Garcia Luna amassed a boss Ismael "El Mayo" Zam- Queens, prosecutors say.q