Duarte to spend 7 and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to money laundering charges

Former Veracruz Governor,

Javier Duarte de Ochoa

, pled guilty to criminal association and money laundering charges, and a federal judge sentenced him to nine years in prison , and a fine of MXN $58,890.60.

The judge also ordered the seizure of 22 plots; 6 properties in Mexico City ; a piece of land in Mexico City; 3 apartments in Boca del Río, Veracruz ; 4 apartments in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo , Guerrero ; and six pieces of land in Cancún, Quintana Roo .

Before issuing a decision, judge Marco Antonio Fuerte Tapia asked the former Governor if he accepted his responsibility in the commission of the crimes the PGR charged him with. Duarte agreed to plead guilty.

A lot land in the Lomas de Chapultepec neighborhood, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Mexico City , and 3 different apartments in the Santa Fe area, another exclusive community, worth MXN $45 million each, were among the seized properties.

His 9-year sentence will turn into 7 and a half years in prison, as he has been incarcerated since April 2017.

Javier Duarte

is accused of creating several shell companies to deviate public funds to acquire dozens of properties in Mexico and abroad.

Duarte

’s case became emblematic of government failure to end corruption and undermined support for the PRI , which has been Mexico ’s dominant party for most of the past century.

Duarte was arrested in Guatemala in April 2017 after more than five months on the run and was extradited to Mexico three months later.

Public funds: political spoils

gm