This Monday, Gerardo Mérida Sánchez, former Secretary of Public Security of Sinaloa, appeared before the Southern District of New York, where Judge Katherine Polk reported that there is “abundant” evidence against the former official.
It was reported that the judge granted a 60-day period for the evidence to be presented, so a second hearing for the former official will take place on August 4.
According to reports, this first hearing aimed to review the formal initiation of the proceedings against Gerardo Mérida and lasted less than 20 minutes.
So far, Gerardo Mérida is the first of 10 Sinaloa officials, including the governor on leave, Rubén Rocha Moya, to have a hearing with U.S. authorities.
The former official is accused of having ties to the “Los Chapitos” faction, from whom he allegedly received up to $100,000 a month in exchange for not interfering in their drug trafficking activities.
Gerardo Mérida Sánchez was arrested on May 11. The former official entered the United States through the Nogales border crossing into Arizona, where he was apprehended by U.S. Marshals.
The Mexican government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Security Cabinet, stated that it will maintain “institutional communication with U.S. authorities, within the framework of international cooperation mechanisms,” according to a statement issued by the federal agency.
Who is Gerardo Mérida Sánchez?
Gerardo Mérida Sánchez served as Secretary of Public Security during the administration of Rubén Rocha Moya, a member of the MORENA party, from September 2023 to December 2024.
On December 21, 2024, Gerardo Mérida resigned from his position as Secretary of Public Security.
Gerardo Mérida’s resignation came three months after the clash between the “Los Chapitos” and “Los Mayos” cartels.
Who are the other officials on this list?
Enrique Inzunza Cázarez, senator and former Secretary General of Sinaloa.
Enrique Díaz Vega, former Secretary of Administration and Finance of Sinaloa.
Dámaso Castro Saavedra, Deputy Attorney General of the Sinaloa Attorney General’s Office.
Marco Antonio Almanza Avilés, former Chief of the Investigative Police of the Sinaloa Attorney General’s Office.
Alberto Jorge Contreras Núñez (“Cholo”), former Chief of the Investigative Police of the Sinaloa Attorney General’s Office.
José Antonio Dionisio Hipólito (“Tornado”), former Deputy Director of the Sinaloa Police.
Juan de Dios Gámez Mendívil, Mayor of Culiacán.
Juan Valenzuela Millan, former high-ranking officer in the Culiacán Municipal Police.
Source: abcnoticias
