Target: Saritha Komatireddy, United States Attorney, Eastern District of New York
Goal: Acclaim the prosecution for a hard-won battle against organized crime.
Genaro Garcia Luna has been convicted of accepting millions in bribes from the infamous Sinaloa drug cartel of Mexico. Garcia Luna, in his position as the chief of the Mexican Federal Police, was once held as the public face of a brutal crackdown on cartels. He betrayed his authority to offer insider information to the Sinaloa gang in exchange for millions in blood money. He later shifted base to the US, and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle in Miami, working as a security consultant. The police arrested him on December 9, 2019, on charges of cocaine trafficking. The former Public Security Secretary of Mexico was finally put on trial this year at the US District Court in Brooklyn. The ForceChange community took notice of this high-profile case and sent this petition to demand speedy litigation. Following a proceeding of four weeks and three days of deliberation by the jury, the court convicted Genaro Garcia Luna. At the mandatory minimum, he faces up to 20 years in prison and awaits sentencing. He is the highest Mexican official convicted in the US.
Saritha Komatireddy, the Prosecutor, stated in her closing argument that without an accomplice like Garcia Luna, the Sinaloa cartel could not have built its empire. She also said that the cartel members “got what they paid for.” Garcia Luna had denied the allegations and refused to testify. His wife, Linda Cristina Pereyra, took to the stands in a desperate bid to portray their lifestyle as upper-middle class, but not so lavish. The exciting trial presented a panorama of ‘high’ extravagance such as having a private zoo or transporting drugs via private jets and submarines.
The conviction can have a far-reaching impact on both sides of the border. Jesus Ramirez Cuevas, a spokesperson for the President of Mexico hailed the decision, stating “justice has arrived.” Observers also note that the conviction could encourage law enforcement in US and Mexico to go after the kingpins who secretly run the game.
The absence of any physical evidence makes this conviction an extremely hard-won battle. The prosecution nailed the case based on the testimony of nine cooperating witnesses. The lawyers had to depend entirely on witness deduction in the absence of recordings, messages, or a documented trail of money Applaud the Department of Justice for delivering a strong verdict in this major litigation.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Attorney Komatireddy,
A former high-profile Mexican minister was recently put on trial at the US District Court in Brooklyn. The conviction of Genaro Garcia Luna marks the end of a tough case. The former Mexican security chief has been found guilty of accepting millions in bribes from the Sinaloa cartel and awaits sentencing. At the mandatory minimum, the disgraced ex-chief of the Mexican Federal Police faces up to 20 years in prison.
Attorney Komatireddy, we appreciate the efforts put in by the prosecution in this tough legal battle. In the absence of any physical evidence, you established a clear argument based primarily on the witnesses of cooperating cartel members.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Marco Verch
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