Florida Court Orders Ex-Mexican Security Chief to Pay $748 Million Over Corruption Allegations

A Florida judge has ordered Genaro García Luna, Mexico’s former Secretary of Public Security, to pay over $748 million to the Mexican government following a civil corruption case that accused him of embezzling millions during his time in office, as per Al Jazeera.

The ruling, handed down Thursday by Judge Lisa Walsh of Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, marks a major victory for Mexico in its ongoing legal efforts to recover assets allegedly stolen by former officials. García Luna’s wife, Linda Cristina Pereyra, was also ordered to pay $1.7 billion, bringing the total judgment to nearly $2.4 billion.

García Luna, who served as Mexico’s top security official from 2006 to 2012, is currently serving a 38-year sentence in the United States after being convicted in 2023 of accepting bribes from the Sinaloa drug cartel. U.S. prosecutors said he used his position to provide sensitive information to cartel leaders, facilitate drug shipments, and even allowed traffickers to operate under the protection of Mexican federal police.

The civil lawsuit, filed by the Mexican government in 2021, accused García Luna and his associates of orchestrating a wide-ranging scheme to launder public funds. According to court documents, the group allegedly funneled stolen money through U.S. and offshore accounts, using it to acquire luxury real estate, bank accounts, and vintage cars.

The Mexican government claimed that García Luna abused his position to manipulate government contracts, particularly in the fields of surveillance and communications. Several of the contracts were reportedly falsified or deliberately inflated.

In its complaint, Mexico said the funds were used to support “lavish lifestyles” and concealed through a network of shell companies and international financial transfers, including to jurisdictions such as Barbados and the United States.

Despite denying wrongdoing, García Luna was convicted by a federal jury in New York of charges including international cocaine distribution conspiracy. He remains one of the highest-ranking Mexican officials ever convicted in the U.S. on drug-related charges.

The civil ruling adds a new legal blow to García Luna and his family as Mexico continues its campaign to recover public funds allegedly lost to corruption during his tenure.