The Attorney General’s Office (FGR), led by Ernestina Godoy, plans to pursue criminal charges against Durango Governor Esteban Villegas—a member of the PRI party—alleging that his administration has shielded the drug trafficking operations of the “Los Cabrera” group, an offshoot of the Sinaloa Cartel faction known as “La Mayiza.” Sources familiar with the investigation revealed this information to La Silla Rota.
U.S. authorities are conducting their own investigation and have contacted officials close to Esteban Villegas, asking them to travel to the United States to testify. However, according to the sources, all but one have declined. Some claimed they lacked a visa, even though they were offered one to make the trip and testify. Consequently, the U.S. government is expected to file charges against the governor at any moment.
According to details of the investigation, the allegations center on protection afforded to Ismael Zambada Sicairos—alias “El Mayito Flaco”—the alleged successor to Ismael “Mayo” Zambada, who is currently facing legal proceedings in the United States. Following the latter’s arrest in July 2024, clashes intensified in Durango between this group and the rival “Los Chapitos” faction, led by the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Villegas Villarreal, 50, has held office since September 2022, having run in an electoral alliance with the National Action Party (PAN) and the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). He previously served as mayor of the state capital, state Secretary of Health, and twice as a member of the state legislature.
The sources indicated that the governor is aware of the FGR case file, which also implicates other state officials, including Attorney General Sonia Yadira de la Garza. A member of her inner circle has been identified as the liaison between the state prosecutor’s office and Zambada Sicairos.
Information obtained indicates that Villegas Villarreal has confided in close associates about the imminence of FGR actions against various members of the state government. At least one of the individuals with whom this information was shared has left the state.
The same sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told La Silla Rota that the aforementioned Zambada Sicairos—known as “Mayito Flaco”—also left the state, and his current whereabouts are unknown.
With this action by the Attorney General’s Office (FGR)—considered imminent—against Governor Villegas and a group of close associates, there would be two state governors facing criminal charges; the other is Rubén Rocha Moya (of the Morena party), who is currently on leave from his post in Sinaloa.
On Thursday, Durango Governor Esteban Villegas welcomed federal security forces to bolster security in the state. “I offer my full support to the Mexican Army, the National Guard, and the Navy,” he stated on social media.
Background: In October 2022, La Silla Rota revealed the existence of files from the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) regarding links between Durango politicians and criminal syndicates, based on the massive data leak known as “Guacamaya Leaks.” These leaked documents—the authenticity of which was later confirmed—indicated that Sedena had known since March 2018 about the protection afforded to the Sinaloa Cartel (prior to its internal split) within the state.
The same Sedena report stated that two former PRI governors of Durango also had ties to organized crime. Specifically, it named Jorge Herrera Caldera, who governed from 2010 to 2016, and Ismael Hernández Deras, who held office from 2004 to 2010.
Source: lasillarota
