Former Mexican Public Security Secretary, Genaro García Luna, has filed an appeal against his conviction for drug trafficking and organized crime in the United States. He was sentenced to 38 years in prison and ordered to pay 2 million dollars.
García Luna's lawyer, César de Castro, filed the appeal on October 18, two days after the sentence was handed down by Judge Brian Cogan in New York. During the sentencing hearing, Cogan described García Luna as a "facilitator" of the Sinaloa Cartel, accusing him of living a double life.
The Eastern District Attorney of New York, Breon Peace, attributed to the former Mexican politician the importation of large quantities of drugs from Mexico to the United States, as well as the generation of violence in both countries. The sentence was seen as a strong message from the authorities.
García Luna, 56, was arrested in Dallas in 2019 and found guilty in February 2023 of five counts of cocaine trafficking, association with the Sinaloa Cartel, and false testimony. His sentencing was delayed several times, during which he maintained his innocence in letters written from the Brooklyn jail, where he has been imprisoned for five years.
Genaro García Luna was responsible for public security during the presidency of Felipe Calderón (2006-2012) and led the strategy known as the 'war on drugs'. Now, his case is still in the appeals process in the United States.
