President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has hailed the recent sentence handed down in Florida against former Mexican Secretary of Public Security Genaro García Luna and his wife, Linda Cristina Pereyra, as a significant victory for justice. The ruling confirms that García Luna engaged in a long-term modus operandi with officials from both the Calderón and Peña Nieto governments to exploit public resources for personal gain.
According to Sheinbaum Pardo, García Luna’s actions were not limited to his time as Secretary of Public Security under former President Felipe Calderón. Even after leaving office, he continued to use public resources for private benefit, a practice that was only partially addressed in the US trial due to jurisdictional limitations.
The president emphasized that the sentence is a recognition of the extensive corruption network established by García Luna and his wife, which involved exploiting public funds through various institutions and intermediaries. She pointed out that these contracts were characterized by an excessive overcharge, further highlighting the extent of the couple’s illicit activities.
Sheinbaum Pardo noted that the approximately $2.5 billion owed to the Mexican government by the couple represents nearly 48 billion pesos, which is equivalent to the country’s entire women’s welfare pension program for a single year or the investment cost of major infrastructure projects like the Mexico-Pachuca Train.
The president expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that even if further proceedings are still pending, this ruling marks an important step towards accountability and serves as a warning to those who engage in similar corrupt practices.
Source: La Jornada
